THE MAGAZINE OF THE NORTH-SOUTH SKIRMISH ASSOCIATION, INC.
Spring 2022 Volume 66 ~ Issue 3 HISTORY. COMPETITION. CAMARADERIE.
The N-SSA promotes the competitive shooting of Civil War firearms and artillery while encouraging the preservation of battlefields, artifacts, clothing and education of the period.
The Skirmish LineTM is the quarterly publication of The North-South Skirmish Association, Inc.
Non-member annual subscriptions are available for $24 per year (U.S. Funds) Editor & Publisher Editor, Eddie Davenport ~ skirmishline@n-ssa.net National Photography Officer ~ Unfilled Visit our website at: www.n-ssa.org The N-SSA Corporate Seal and the magazine title, The Skirmish LineTM, are registered trademarks of the North-South Skirmish Association, Inc. Reproduction in any form or manner without the expressed written consent of the N-SSA Board of Directors is strictly prohibited. All pages are copyrighted by the North-South Skirmish Association, Inc. and The Skirmish LineTM magazine. Text and images in this publication are the property of the original owners (authors). Text and images may not be published separately, in hard copy or electronically, without the expressed written permission of their owner(s). The authors and advertisers are responsible to secure the proper permissions and right to publish articles, photos, and illustrations not created by them. The North-South Skirmish Association, Inc., The Skirmish LineTM, and its staff are not responsible for copyright infringement. Please contact the Editor for questions relating to any matter, including but not limited to permission to copy materials herein. Disclaimer: The North-South Skirmish Association does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse any product or service advertised in this publication. The publisher also does not guarantee the safety or effectiveness of any product or service illustrated, mentioned, offered, or advertised herein. The publisher does not assume responsibility as to whether or not products or services advertised in this publication comply with all state or local laws which may be applicable in regard to the purchase or usage of such products or services. Warning: The author(s), The Skirmish LineTM and its staff, and the North-South Skirmish Association, Inc. cannot accept any responsibility for accidents or differing results obtained using techniques, products, and combinations thereof that will make results vary. Firearms should be checked before firing and periodically thereafter by a competent gunsmith and all manufacturer’s instructions and warnings must be followed.
Stories & Features
On the cover ~ Our departed friend and Commander, John Sharrett.
Change of Address Requests Please send all address changes to: Judy Stoneburner N-SSA Executive Secretary PO Box 218 | Crozet, VA 22932-0218 If your household receives multiple copies that you’d prefer not to receive, please email execsecretary@n-ssa.net. You must include your Zip+4 to receive The Skirmish Line
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The Firing Line.................................................3 Taps....................................................................5 N-SSA Contact Information...........................7 From the National Commander.....................9 From the Editor’s Desk..................................10 Guest Writer - Toby Bridges..........................11 BOD Meeting Notes.......................................19 N-SSA Classified Ads.....................................20 N-SSA Officer Nomination Form................23 The Chuck Wagon..........................................24 Society of Color Bearers................................25 Remembering John Sharrett.........................29 Guest Writer - Warhawk................................33 A Child’s Memories........................................42 Arsenic and Old Lace....................................46 Loading Stand for Single Shot Pistols..........49 CSA Senator Wigfall & Son Letter...............52 Small Arms Committee Article....................54 Back to Basics..........................................................56 Safety Article...................................................59
Thank you again to all our contributors and sponsors of the N-SSA
Note From the Editor
Send in any photos or articles that you feel may be of interest to other N-SSA members. When sending photos, please include captions and the names of those pictured. Don’t forget to credit yourself as the writer. Submit all articles in text format (ex. Word, not a pdf). All photos must be at least 300 dpi (credit the photographer). Submit via e-mail to skirmishline@n-ssa.net. You will receive a return email confirming receipt.
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The Firing Line This issue of the Skirmish Line was one of the hardest I have ever had to edit and assemble. From the cover photo of John to the remembrance article within. I can’t remember a time in my life that I did not have my Uncle John to turn to. Skirmishing will never be the same without him by our side. There are a lot of things in the works for the Skirmish Line. In the upcoming issues we will see guest spots from more YouTube personalities, staff writers and a special section from Seth Isaacson, Lead Historian from the Rock Island Auction Company. Seth’s article I am really looking forward to as he will give N-SSA members a sneak peek at some pieces coming up for auction. Companies are starting to take notice of the changes in the Skirmish Line and are reaching out to give us even more content. In the works are some reviews from firearm makers, gun storage companies and many more! I wanted to share with our members a very special offer from one of our latest sponsors, Arms Preservation Inc and their product API Gun Bags. If you use the code NSSA10 at checkout you will receive 10% off your purchase! In this edition we have some great articles from members, and some special guest writers. YouTube content creator Warhawk & Traditional Muzzleloading Hunter Editor Toby Bridges. Be sure to check out own original content! In this issue we start our new series, “Back to Basics”. In this series we will cover all types of topics that will benefit the new shooter and who knows maybe even a few tips for the veteran shooter. We are growing as an organization and sometimes we forget what it’s like to be a new shooter. This series attempts to correct that oversight and help us grow our sport. Finally, like always I wanted to end on a personal note. Working as the Skirmish Line editor has been a pleasure. I always enjoy working with members on their articles and helping them craft the story they have in their head. If you have an idea but struggle with the writing send it to me anyways. One of my duties is to help you edit your story and make it to print worthy. This is one of my favorite duties. If you have an idea, please send it to me at nssaeditor@gmail.com. Last issue I shared that I joined the board of directors of Walk the Talk America. Well, I have exciting news to share to the organization. We have partnered with Armscor who now print our message on all of their ammo. We have also recently as of Shot Show January 2022 partnered with Ruger Firearms who donated $25,000 with a promise for continued donations to help us continue to educate and grow. Keep an eye out on the news as our President Michael Sodini is working with lawmakers to help pass a bill that will benefit all firearm owners. Thank you for all your continued support. Until next time, keep your powder dry and your shot X’s Eddie Davenport Dismal Swamp Rangers 11366V Skirmish Line Editor
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Welcome to all New Recruits November 2021 - January 2022
North-South Skirmish Association National Commanders
*John Gilmer
1956-1958
Allegheny Region 4
*James Waters
1959-1962
Carolina Region 2
*Albert Hardin
1963-1964
Central Virginia Region
*Carl Jensen
1965-1970
Chesapeake Region 6
Richard Corrigan
1971-1974
Deep South Region
*Frank Schoch
1975-1976
Mid-Atlantic Region 5
*John Sharrett
1977-1982
Midwest Region 1
*James McAleer
1983-1984
John Robey
1985-1988
*Royal Inge
1989-1992
Earl Coates
1993-1996
Gary Crawford
1997-2000
Earl Coates
2001-2004
Charles Smithgall
2005-2008
Linwood McMahon
2009-2012
Phillip Spaugy
2013-2016
New England Region
0
0
0
Northeast Region 0 Northwest Region 2 Potomac Region 7 Tidewater Region 1 Western Region 0
David Booz
2017-2020
Charles Kindle, Jr.
2021 -
The joy of skirmishing is making lifelong friends. With that comes the pain of having to say goodbye at the end of the day. This year we have had to say goodbye to far too many of our friends. Photo by Ben Harris, DSR, of John Sharrett and Dicky Dodd circa 2007
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TAPS October 4, 2021 To January 16, 2022
Jorgen E. Clausen
2nd New Jersey Volunteers
Michael Cranford
27th North Carolina
Howard Culver, Jr.
McGregor’s Battery
Wesley Frantz
5th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Larry A. Hooker
7th North Carolina Volunteers
Thomas E. Johnson, Jr.
2nd Virginia Cavalry
Michael McChesney
Norfolk Light Infantry
William V. Osborne, II
29th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
Anthony J. Shalna
4th Virginia Infantry
John A. Sharrett, III
Dismal Swamp Rangers
“Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.” -Emily Dickinson
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Best Quality Quality for for Traditional Traditional Rifles Rifles Best Schuetzen Black Black Powder Powder Schuetzen and 4-Wing 4-Wing Musket Musket Caps Caps and
Schuetzen Black Powder
Schuetzen Powder Energetics, Inc. 866-809-9704 www.schuetzenpowder.com 6 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
North-South Skirmish Association National/Regional/Staff/Committee Contact information National Officers National Commander Past National Commander National Deputy Commander National Adjutant Inspector General National Paymaster Executive Secretary
Charles L. Kindle, Jr. David T.Booz Robert Hannula Richard H. Clements Michael J. Santarelli Bette Ann Shepherd Judy O. Stoneburner
419-346-6768 717-338-9379 304-279-6348 703-815-3861 215-576-5358 443-375-2115 434-823-4772
clk111@Roadrunner.Com dtbooz@yahoo.com bobbyhannula@juno.com nssa_national_adjutant@aol.com 1stpacavalry@gmail.com paymaster@n-ssa.net execsecretary@n-ssa.net
757-508-3007 570-423-1070 410-795-2677 703-407-2445 540-931-4033 937-272-7520 757-868-7844
sixpounder1841@yahoo.com nancyc@stny.rr.com gorsbob@aol.com wvjordan@aol.com gary.crawford18@outlook.com allenm@mtmcase-gard.com slwcarr@yahoo.com
Region Commanders & Inspectors Allegheny Commander David Cole 703-362-7836 cole84_89@verizon.net AL IG Craig C.Shedd 570-423-1752 ccsmew@yahoo.com Carolina Commamder Rex Cockerham 704-576-1652 racockerham@hotmail.com CR IG Dave Jackson 828-712-1437 gaffergrip65@yahoo.com Central VA Commander Ralph P.Shaw 804-400-9008 ltnup@embarqmail.com CV IG Phillip E. Crabill 540-323-3970 pdcrabil@shentel.net Chesapeake Commander Edwin Thompson 443-532-7841 mdrebel@live.com CH IG Michael L. Linton 301-873-7110 mlinton1966@yahoo.com Deep South Commander Charles I. Bondurant 502-221-0727 smokinpole@aol.com DS IG Eddye H. Lawley 205-789-9139 eddyelawley@gmail.com Mid-Atlantic Commander Roger A. Gray 732-280-8159 ragray1961@gmail.com MA IG Michael J. Santarelli 215-576-5358 1stpacavalry@gmail.com Midwest Commander Eric S. Schuessler 216-990-5903 eschues@aol.com MW IG Ian Egbert 740-357-1415 ian45662@yahoo.com New England Commander Louis Ruggiero 917-453-0171 tammany42@aol.com EN IG Richard M. Intravia 860-833-8856 quahog@sbcglobal.net Northeast Commander Robert D. Kelley 814-484-3415 rkel1858@outlook.com NE IG Benjamin P. Nevlezer 315-576-3108 bnevlezer@yahoo.com Northwest Commander Edward Walters 248-346-1962 ewalt1855@gmail.com NW IG James E.Weber 734-244-6394 shooter575@gmail.com Potomac Commander Davy Crockett, Jr. 570-888-8686 davyc@stny.rr.com PT IG Mark E. Elton 443-742-0041 mark.alaska@verizon.net Tidewater Commander E.R. Mike Davenport 252-453-2726 eddie_davenport@bshsi.org TW IG Michael Stoneburner 434-882-2228 bulletmaker.stoney@gmail.com Western Commander John P. Mark 920-420-1633 jmark48@hotmail.com WR IG John T. Thatcher 815-653-9024 Jt450@Aol.Com Staff Officers & Committee Chairs Artillery Officer Robert T. West Awards Committee Chair Nancy C. Crockett Bivouac Officer Robert E. Gorsky Charitable Giving Wayne V. Jordan Community Relations Gary J. Crawford Corporate Relations Officer Allen Minneman Costume Committee Chair Sharleen Leigh West 7 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
Doc’s Place Retail Sales Richard Intravia 860-833-8856 quahog@sbcglobal.net Ft. Shen. Emerg.Coord. Chester T. Lauck 540-336-3938 lauckc@yahoo.com Historical Center Officer Gary J. Crawford 540-931-4033 gary.crawford18@outlook.com History Committee John P. Zebelean, III 410-747-4161 rebshooter@aol.com Inter. Muzzleloading Com Errol W. McLean 315-769-6204 captain1@slic.com IT Manager Linwood L. McMahon 757-536-5187 linwood.mcmahon@verizon.net Judge Advocate/Solicitor Lars E. Anderson 703-967-1789 lars.anderson@ofplaw.com Logistics Officer Pending Shawn A. Shaffer Long Range Planning Chair Robert Hannula 304-279-6348 bobbyhannula@juno.com LR Planning Co-Chair Edwin Thompson 443-532-7841 mdrebel@live.com Chris@WashingtonBlueRifles.com Marketing Committee Chair Chris M.DeFrancisci 540-840-2707 National Photography Officer N/A N/A N/A National Safety Officer Douglas K. Walter 717-357-1134 dwalter47@comcast.net NRA Liason Officer Craig Stanley 717-649-9461 cws11@ptd.net Ordnance Officer/Med Liaison John Venskoske, Sr. 540-888-3349 bcgsi@hughes.net Personnel Review Chair Carlton Layne 678-773-1364 cpllayne@aol.com Program Officer Lynn Warner 267-254-1847 lwarnerl15@gmail.com Program /Insurance Officer Jason M. Rexrode 540-414-2127 nssaprogramchair@gmail.com Property Management Officer Jeffrey C. Hall 703-901-3691 jchall23.jh@gmail.com Property Manager Timothy D. Scanlan nssapropertymgr@aol.com Protocol Officer Brandon S. Bowser 419-274-9197 bbowser13@gmail.com Provost Marshall Robert S. Klutas 717-921-8660 stonycrick61@gmail.com Public Information Officer Bruce W. Miller 248-258-9007 spartan70@sbcglobal.net Range Officer Scott B.Harris 540-841-4566 cwshooter575@gmail.com Recruiting Officer Robert M. Harrison 703-599-8865 rharrison6703@yahoo.com Registration Officer John L. Gaskill 586-291-2557 jlg14tenn@aol.com webmaster@washingtonbluerifles.com Revolver Range Officer Chris M.DeFrancisci 540-840-2707 Rules Officer Sharon A. Myers 724-255-5830 nssarulesoffice@gmail.com Sanitation Officer Charles J. Wager 910-326-4833 cwager@ec.rr.com Signal Officer Robert Hannula 304-279-6348 bobbyhannula@juno.com Skirmish Line Editor Eddie Davenport, III 757-439-4553 nssaeditor@gmail.com Small Arms Staff Officer John D.Holland, Jr. 716-824-5542 smallarms01@outlook.com Statistics Officer Jeffrey R. Knauss 412-766-2789 j.knauss@verizon.net Sutler Officer Paul D. Stoneburner 434-242-2533 madforestry6@gmail.com Uniform Committee Mark E. Latham 603-382-7014 balchiss@hotmail.com Unit Membership Com Chair Kenneth L. Stiles 571-208-4826 nssa.org.membership@gmail.com Veteran’s Committee Chair George J. Schell 410-215-7040 gschell516@cs.com Youth Program Coordinator Frederick J. Schell 410-687-4173
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From the office of the
National Commander
I’m hoping everyone had a good Holiday season and winter so far. We were unable to have an in person January board meeting, but held a virtual meeting that lasted six hours. I feel a lot was accomplished and that we are well prepared for the 2022 season. I would like to thank my staff personnel for all their input, and also the input from those members who participated. I’m sure that you have noticed by now that the Goex Plant has been sold. It looks like they will be able to continue to take care of all of our powder supply needs. I am happy to report our membership numbers are growing, as detailed in the minutes from the Board meeting. The finances are also doing well. I’d like to take this opportunity to make a very special thanks to everyone for all their donations this past year, and I hope this trend will continue. These donations allow us to do many important things over and above what has been budgeted, such as maintain our property, repair equipment, and purchase some needed equipment. I’m looking forward to seeing everybody in the spring at Nationals, and I may even see some of you sooner. Stay safe and well, and see you soon. Chuck
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From the Editors Desk In the last issue I made a mistake when submitting the photos for the winner of the Robert Hughes Trophy. The picture was not of the winning team. Please join me in congratulating the Nansmond Guards on their accomplishment.
Robert Hughes Trophy 2nd Place A-1 Musket Team
Nansemond Guards, Co. A
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Hunting With .58 Civil War Rifled Muskets & Carbines By: Toby Bridges
If there is one thing that the Civil War definitely WAS NOT ... it was “Civil”!
In all reality, it was the bloodiest conflict ever fought on American soil - and between Americans. Several million men from the North and South lined up on battlefields, mostly in the South, and fired great hunks of lead at one another, until one side became so decimated that the other could over run the opposing force. And while the fighting during the early 1860s saw the introduction of breech-loading military cartridge arms, the vast majority of the relatively close quarters combat was done with large-bore percussion muzzle-loaded guns.
The mainstay arm of troops on both sides was a long-barreled rifled musket. Northern infantry was most commonly armed with either the U.S. Model 1861 or Model 1863 Springfield rifledmusket. These were .58 caliber rifled long guns, with a 40” barrel. And the total production at the Springfield Armory and by several dozen private contractors was around 1.5 million. Southern troops were very often armed with Confederate copies of these guns, and with U.S. arms recovered from the battlefield. However, the primary rifle-musket of the Confederate foot soldier was the .577 caliber Enfield rifled-musket produced in England, and brought to the South by daring blockade runners. The standard Enfield Model 1853 Rifle was built with a 39” barrel. Likewise, a number of shorter variations and carbines were also used by troops on both sides.
Above - .58 Caliber U.S. Model 1863 Springfield Rifled-Musket
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Above - The British .577 Caliber Model 1853 Pattern Rifled-Musket
The “standard” powder charge for either of these widely used large-bore rifle-muskets, and shorter variations, was around 60 grains of FFg black powder. Even when fired from such a lengthy bore, these light powder charges could only get the huge hollow-based Minie bullets, commonly weighing 450 to 500 grains, out of the muzzle at around 800 to 900 f.p.s. Such loads generate only around 750 to 850 foot-pounds of energy - at the muzzle. Down range at 100 yards, or about where the line of enemy soldiers would be firing back, these big soft lead hollow-based conical bullets would retain only about 500 to 600 foot-pounds of knockdown power. The battle tactics of the time was not so much “to kill the enemy” ... but rather to wound as many as possible ... which meant other soldiers would be taken out of action to get the wounded off the battlefield. Of the 647,000 casualty deaths attributed to the four years of fighting between the North and the South, it›s very likely that close to half died from infections. So, how is it that the primary muzzle-loaded military arms of the mid 1800›s ... which were more likely to severely wound an enemy combatant than kill the soldier outright ... in any way ... be considered a modern day muzzleloader for taking big game? The fact of the matter is, as the muzzle-loaded rifle-muskets were designed “For Military Use” ... please excuse my technical observation ... “They Sucked As Hunting Arms!” At best, the Springfields ... the Enfields ... and just about any other large-bore muzzle-loaded arm of that era was built for one purpose and one purpose only - TO KEEP A LOT OF LEAD FLYING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE OPPOSING FORCE! The guns were not built for precise shot placement ... and neither were the big hollow-based so-called “Minie Ball” hollow-based projectiles - tens of millions of which were The Lyman Minié ball (575213OS, Old Style) weighs 460 grains. The bullet at left launched back and forth between the Blue and the Gray. These shows a pin-hole in the hollowbase because were purposely produced significantly under size ... allowing the mould and molten lead were not hot enough for perfect casting. the soldier to keep ramming them down a fouled bore during the heat of battle. The thin skirt of the hollow base would expand into the rifling at the moment the light 60-or-so grain service charge of black powder ignited. It really didn’t matter if the bullet flew true or not ... because the sights on these rifled-muskets could not be adjusted for accurately placing a shot. For longer range shooting, the soldier could flip up a higher notched leaf ... but there was no windage adjustment whatsoever. 12 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
The bore of the .577 Enfield rifled-muskets featured rifling that spun with a 1-in-72 twist, and i’ve read where the U.S. Springfield rifled muskets featured either a 1-in-74 or 1-in-78 twist. Again ... this had nothing to do with “accuracy” ... but rather simply facilitated keeping the guns firing in the heat of battle. When shooting charges of black powder ... a slower rate of twist fouls more slowly than a faster rate of twist. Fortunately, those slow rates of rifling twist are well suited for shooting a patched round ball. (More so than ANY conical bullet.)
Above - Original Remington Model 1863 Zouave Rifled-Musket
Many Civil War arms experts often praise the .58 caliber Remington Model 1863 as being the finest of the rifled-musket designs of the early 1860›s. While it does carry the Model 1863 designation, this colorful brass mounted rifled-musket saw very little military use. In fact, just 12,501 were built between 1862 and 1865. Historians tend to agree that no “combat troops” were ever issued a socalled Remington Zouave. In reality ... I did put my very first whitetail “on the ground” ... shooting an original Civil War .58 caliber Remington Model 1863. It was the opening morning of my second deer season ... in 1964. I was hunting in the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois when a big doe and button buck ran past at about 40 yards. A quick shot with the old Stevens 12-guage double I was hunting with threw the rifled slug just behind the doe. As the button buck ran past ... I swung on it with a little more care, and when the shotgun roared the deer stumbled a bit. I saw that the slug had hit a little forward just ahead of the facing front shoulder. The deer faltered a step or two before reaching a wooded valley ... then dropped down the side of the slope and out of sight. With two new slugs in the double ... I followed in hot pursuit. A quarter mile later, I had gotten within 60 yards of the slowing deer ... and took another shot. It was a clean miss. The deer managed to keep about that same distance between us ... and several minutes later I got the chance to shoot again. It was another clean miss. But the deer just stood there ... and my other slugs were in a coat pocket back at a bulldoze pile I had hunted from that morning. I was about to head back when someone yelled from a higher ridge and came walking down ... with a muzzleloader in hand. He handed it to me and instructed me how to hold the sights. From about 60 yards, that shot dropped my very first whitetail. I watched as he lightly wiped the bore of the front-loader and reloaded with a charge of black powder and a patchd ball. As he prepared to leave, he reached into his leather pouch and pulled out another ball and handed it to me. 13 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
“Tell your hunting buddies you got your deer with one of these,” he said with a smile. He then turned and walked back up to the top of the ridge. To this very day I wish I had asked his name. That one shot from what I now know was an original Remington Zouave is the shot which sparked my interest in muzzleloading when I was just 14-years-old.
Above - The Davide Pedersoli & Co. reproduction of the Remington Model 1863 “Zouave” Rifled-Musket
If you do have a great interest in the Civil War, and especially the guns of the Civil War, and feel that you would want to hunt with one of the rifled muskets, the modern copies of the Remington Model 1863 just could be your best choice. The reproductions of the Model 1863 (or Model 1861) Springfield rifled muskets are built with a long 40 inch barrel ... the three-band Model 1853 Enfield copies have a 39 inch barrel. Hunting with such a long barrel can become a bit cumbersome when hunting from a tree stand or enclosed blind. The Zouave copies feature a shorter 33-inch barrel. (As does the Pedersoli two-band Pattern 1858 Enfield rifle.) Personally, I dislike the non-windage adjustment rear sights on all Civil War style percussion rifled muskets - and feel that until the companies making such authentic copies offer a replacement rear sight that is adjustable for both windage and elevation ... not many serious muzzleloadng hunters will go after big game with a frontloader that prints somewhere other than where the sights are aligned! Since I did use an original .58 caliber Remington Model 1863 to put in that finishing shot, which put my very first deer down nearly 57 years ago, I do have some love of that model rifled-musket. But, I simply cannot see open sights, especially in dark timber, well enough to hunt with them any more. So, I helped Hi-Lux Optics to design a set of mounts for putting one of their circa 1855 style Wm. Malcolm “telescopic rifle sights” on my Zouave reproduction - shown at right. It is one sharp shooting rig ... and it turns heads every where I take it. This Zouave is offered by Traditions Performance Firearms, and is produced by Chiappa Firearms in Italy. I absolutely despise the hollow-based Civil War Minie bullet as a hunting projectile. While I will generally choose a conical bullet over a round ball for hunting big game ... when it comes to .58 caliber Civil War rifled-muskets, I will pretty much stick with a patched round ball over a Minie bullet ... since those big and heavy conical bullets were designed to be shot with relatively light (appx. 60 grains) charges of black powder. The .58 Zouave shown in the photo above shoots well with a .015” thick lubed cotton patched 278-grain .570” lead ball, powered by up to 90-grains of GOEX FFg black powder. That much powder will get that heavy sphere of lead out of the 33-inch barrel at around 1,300 f.p.s. - with right at 1,050 foot-pounds of muzzle energy.
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At 50 yards, thanks to that early styled 6x scope, I find that I can usually keep hits on a target inside of 3-inches center-to-center. Unfortunately, at that distance the velocity of that big ball has dropped to just over 1,000 f.p.s., and it hits with only about 625 f.p.e. Still, that bowling ball sized lead ball will punch a big hole in a whitetail. Through all of Summer 2020, I tried my best to find one of the Lee bullet molds for the 440-grain .58 caliber REAL bullet. Due to the so-called “Covid-19 Shortages” I did finally locate one for sale on the internet ... FOR $160! Talk about price gouging. This bullet mold only retails for $29.98 ... directly from Lee Precision. However, no one seems to have any of the Lee molds in stock ... not even Lee Precision. I suspect there is something very phony about the intentional shortages of just about ALL shooting and hunting products. My “Made in Italy” Civil War reproduction .58 Zouave is built with a slow 1-in-63 rate of rifling twist ... which means there is a very real chance that this solid-based .58 caliber Lee conical bullet design may not even shoot with accuracy out of this rifled-musket. According to the Pedersoli website, the Zouave that company offers (shown in an above photo) is built with a nearly as slow 1-in-60 rifling twist. However, that Italian gun maker does offer a reproduction of the 33-inch barreled .577 two-band Enfield with a snappier 1-in-48 twist ... which I’m sure will shoot the somewhat squat 440-grain Lee bullet. However, there’s the question whether the bullet will fit into the .577-bore of the Enfield model. An 80-grain charge of GOEX FFg should get the 440-grain REAL Bullet out of the muzzle at around 1,100 f.p.s. While that velocity is not all that impressive ... thanks to the weight of the conical bullet muzzle energy would be right at 1,180 foot pounds. At 50 yards, velocity would be down to around 950 f.p.s., retaining just 880 or so foot-pounds of energy. At 75 yards, the big hunk of lead would be fling at around 925 f.p.s. ... and hit a whitetail with 835 foot-pounds of retained energy. While a .58 caliber hole through vital organs will do a lot of damage, if you do plan to hunt with one of the reproduction .58 caliber Civil War rifled-muskets, keep in mind that 800 footpounds of energy is considered minimum for cleanly harvesting deer sized game.
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If ... Or When ... we do manage to get our hands on one of the Lee Precision bullet molds for the 440-grain .58 caliber REAL bullet, we’ll bring you an article/report on how well it shoots out of our period-correct scoped Traditions copy of the Remington Model 1863 rifled-musket. In the past, I have shot bullets of the REAL design out of several .45 and .50 caliber rifles ... and have found them to perform very well on deer, antelope and wild hogs. I had also wanted to take a bear this spring, using a REAL bullet out of a Pedersoli .54 Jaeger rifle ... but simply could not locate one of the molds anywhere - other than a couple listed on the internet by scalpers ... at three times the retail price. As for my scoped Zouave ... through the summer, I’ll just keep shooting it with a patched Hornady swaged 278-grain .570” diameter soft lead ball. The big bore rifled-musket shoots a patched ball very well with up to 100-grains of GOEX FFg black powder. At 50 yards ... the stylish .58 Civil War reproduction ... and that long sharp and clear Hi-Lux Optics copy of the model 1855 Wm. Malcolm telescopic rifle sight ... with that load ... keeps hits right at 1 1/2 inches center-to-center. And when one takes into consideration that the ball is in excess of 1/2inch in diameter ... that’s not too bad. At the muzzle of the 33-inch barrel, the load is good for right at 1,400 f.p.s. - and just over 1,200 foot-pounds of energy - AT THE MUZZLE! Unfortunately, that round ball load for my Zouave drops below 800 f.p.e. somewhere between 40 and 45 yards. Originally, this TRADITIONAL MUZZLELOADER HUNTING article was to be devoted to just shooting and hunting with the .58 caliber Zouave reproductions. But as we attempted to acquire additional loading components and equipment for the article, we found ourselves unable to do so. No one seemed to have anything available or in stock ... so I just decided to lump hunting with just about any .58 caliber rifled-musket together in one article. Early on in this article I did mention that I dislike the hollow-based Minie bullets. In my opinion, they are a horrible hunting bullet ... easily distorted by the pressure created by as little as 70-grains of black powder. For most skirmish shooters ... just being able to keep hits on a man-sized silhouette at 100-yards might be “great accuracy” with a rifled-musket. Still, it’s hardly “acceptable hunting accuracy”.
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Personally, I›ve found finding an accurate hunting load for one of the big-bore muzzle-loaded rifled-muskets easier done with the good ol’ patched round ball than a hollow-based conical bullet. If you do hunt with one of these older-style .58 caliber percussion ignition frontloaders, drop us an e-mail at the following address and share your load ... how it shoots ... how you’ve compensated for the windage non-adjustable rear sight ... how your rifled-musket snd load has performed on game - and we will pass it on to our readers.
namlhunt@gmail.com
Scopes On Traditional Muzzleloaders What we now call a “riflescope” was once referred to as a “telescopic rifle sight”. And whether you feel they belong on a muzzleloader or not ... there’s one truth about what most now just call a “scope”. And that is ... Rifle Optics Were Developed On Muzzleloaders! The book shown at left was very likely one of the earliest books on shooting ... deadly accurate long range muzzle-loaded rifles ... and, yes, “telescopic rifle sights”. Author John R. Chapman actually began compiling the book in the late 1830’s ... and it was published in 1848. Chapman was a “civil engineer” by trade, and was fascinated by the accuracy of several fairly recent (at that time anyway) American innovations - the development of the conical muzzle-loaded bullet ... and the muzzle-loaded rifles which shot them so precisely. In his book, he referred to a couple of the country’s top rifle makers Edwin Wesson and Morgan James.
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Both produced some of the most accurate longrange muzzleloading rifles of the 1840’s and 1850’s. The author of this book is also believed to have done much of the original blueprinting for the construction of some of the very first “telescopic rifle sights” ... which rifle maker Morgan James is believed to have built. Since the writing of this book began as early as 1837 or 1838, it is not only possible, but likely, that the first magnifying “riflescope” existed pre 1840. Until the mid 1850’s, such optical sights were built to the shooter’s eyesight ... much like a pair of glasses. Consequently, the cost of such an early scope was often more than the cost of the rifle it was to be mounted on. In 1855, William Malcolm introduced the adjustable eye-piece, which allowed individual shooters to quickly and easily “focus” a scope to their eyesight. This innovation meant that the “Wm. Malcolm telescopic rifle sights” could be offered by general mercantile stores and by gunsmiths ... and made such optical rifle sights far more affordable. In essence, long range muzzleloading was born during the 1840’s - with the perfection of both the “telescopic rifle sight” and longer (higher ballistic coefficient) conical bullets. Shooting rifles with a fast twist bore, and topped with an early scope, allowed many of the top shots to punch sub 2-inch groups at 200+ yards. With the outbreak of war between the North and the South in April 1861, many of these marksmen ... or “sharpshooters” ... became the very first true military snipers - most shooting scoped high grade muzzle-loaded target rifles ... including rifles built by Morgan James and Edwin Wesson. (It should be noted that John R. Chapman praised Wesson in his book as the most talented and skilled of all American muzzleloading rifle makers.) 18 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
Back in the early 2000’s, I had the honor to work with an icon in the scope industry ... Jim Leatherwood ... to help Hi-Lux Optics to introduce an upscaled modern version of the long Wm. Malcolm «telescopic rifle sight». I now have the scopes on three of my traditional bullet shooting muzzleloaders. By the end of this month (June 2021) I turn 72 years old ... and my eyes are nothing like they were when I was in my prime. To properly place my shots ... I definitely need a scope! My only complaint with the Hi-Lux Optics long Malcolm scope is that it is offered only in 6x. That’s great if a modern day muzzleloading shooter is looking to match the long-range accuracy achieved during the 1840s ... 1850’s ... and 1860’s - but the magnification is too great for a rifle being used to hunt deer and other big game when and where shots are likely to be inside of 100 yards. The field of view with these small 3/4” diameter long scopes is very limited, making it nearly impossible to find your intended target with a 6x magnification. For hunting, Hi-Lux Optics needs to offer this scope in 3x as well. I certainly hope someone with the company is reading this. - Toby Bridges
Editor’s Note
The preceding article was reprinted with permission from Traditional Muzzleloader Hunting the premier online source for traditional muzzleloading hunting. Please check them out at https://www.traditionalmlhunting.com/. Thanks again Toby for allowing us to feature your writing in the Skirmish Line.
North-South Skirmish Association Board of Director’s Meeting Thursday, September 30, 2021 Fort Shenandoah, Winchester, Virginia Approved with corrections November 28, 2021 The Board of Directors met in Executive Session prior to the general meeting. Commander, Charles Kindle called the Fall National’s Board of Director’s meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. National Adjutant, Richard Clements called roll and the following was reported. National Officers present National Commander, Charles Kindle Past National Commander, David Booz Deputy Commander, Robert Hannula Adjutant, Richard Clements Paymaster, Bette Shepherd Inspector General, Michael Santarelli Executive Secretary, Judy Stoneburner Region Commanders present Allegheny, David Cole Carolina, Rex Cockerham Central Virginia, Ralph Shaw Chesapeake, Ed Thompson Deep South, Charlie Bondurant Mid-Atlantic, Roger Gray Midwest, Eric Schuessler New England, Lou Ruggerio Northeast, Robert Kelley Northwest, Edward Walters Potomac, Davy Crockett Tidewater, Mike Davenport Western, John Mark Commander Kindle welcomed everyone to the meeting. He announced that the barn dance has been cancelled due to concerns of crowding inside the barn due to COVID. In addition, the membership meeting is being moved to Memorial Park Friday night due to the same reason. Commander Kindle recognized Wayne Jordan. Wayne informed the board that he was running over budget for the first time and he requested an additional $400.00 to get him through the year. Wayne asked if there are things that need funding to let him know. He is always looking for ideas. The motion was made by Bobby Hannula to increase the Charitable Giving Budget for 2021 by $400.00. David Booz amended the motion to increase the budget by $500.00. The amended motion passed.
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Small Arms Staff Officer, John Holland presented information regarding the two arms submitted by the SAC for approval by the Board. Pedersoli reproduction of the “Remington Model 1863 Rifle, aka “Zouave Rifle”, in .58 caliber. This arm meets the dimensional requirements of the N-SSA. Robert Hannula moved for production approval. Production approved Henry Repeating Arms Company reproduction of the “Model 1860 Henry Rifle” with an Iron Frame, in both .44-40 and .45 Long Colt calibers. This arm meets the dimensional and caliber requirements of the N-SSA. Mike Davenport moved for production approval. Production approved.
Deputy Provost Marshall, James Odenheimer announced that all was going well. He stated that visitors need to complete their parking passes. Speed is still a factor at the fort. There is a concern about the campers still in the parking areas. Commander Kindle stated that this issue will be handled in the spring of 2022 one-way or the other. Ed Thompson, Adjutant of the skirmish stated that all was going well, even though staffing was small, but the teams have pulled together. Commander Kindle stated he thought things were going very well. Northeast Region Commander, Robert Kelley reported the loss/ theft of a Northeast Region trophy from the Historical Center at Fort Shenandoah that was on loan from the Northeast Region. This trophy contained a non-operable black powder revolver. The trophy was last known to be in the Historical Center on display in October of 2019. As a result of building damage, all artifacts in the center were stored elsewhere while the repairs were being completed. Commander Kindle called for a thorough search of the Historical Center Building for the trophy; however, the trophy
was not located. A report has been made with the Virginia State Police and a report of incident verification to the New York State Police. Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of this trophy should contact Robert Kelley and/or Commander Kindle. Executive Secretary, Judy Stoneburner announced how we would handle the longer Sunday opening ceremonies for this nationals. Davy Crockett moved to recess at 8:12 p.m. Motion to recess was approved.
Judy Stoneburner Executive Secretary
N-SSA Classifieds
Prices: $0.60 per word (minimum 15 words) Extras,BOLD $4.00. Words are considreed to be full names, abbreviations, addresses, full zip and telephone number. Please specify the headline you want. Texas Skirmish Association holds skirmish musket matches in the San Antonio area. A great opportunity for new skirmishers or veterans to practice their skills. For more information contact texasskirmish@gmail.com.
Do you want to have your add be seen by 1,000’s of potential customers? Reach out to me at nssaeditor@gmail.com.
Lost at Fall Nationals artillery Shell Jacket has KHK inside neck..was left in lower bathroom by 3rd US... Reward...Ken Kurdt 3rd US 845-831-1170
Northeast Trade Co. Dealer of MCM Lube, Sizing Dies, Ram Rods, Range Rods, Revolver Reloading presses, and all your shooting supplies needs. Contact us at NorthEastTradeCo@hotmail.com or 570-546-2061
Just a reminder to all competitors N-SSA rule 22.4(a) limits the amount of black powder each member can possess while at the fort – “competitor may have in his possession at an official skirmish nomore than one pound of black powder in excess of preloaded ammunition.” 20 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
North-South Skirmish Association 2022 Skirmish Dates Fort Shenandoah Dates Approved July 31, 2021 Final 2022 Skirmish Dates approved January 28, 2022 January 14-16, 2022 January 29, 2022 February 11-13, 2022
Snowball PT Board of Director’s Meeting 4th Louisiana DS
March 4-6, 2022
Palmetto Guard Co. I, 2nd SC Vol.
CR
March 11-13, 2022 March 25-27, 2022 March 25-27, 2022 March 25-27, 2022 March 25-27, 2022 April 8-10, 2022 April 8-10, 2022 April 22-24, 2022 April 22-24, 2022 April 22-24, 2022 April 22-24, 2022 April 23-24, 2022 April 23-24, 2022 April 29-May 1, 2022 April 29-May 1, 2022 May 6-8, 2022 May 7 & 8, 2022 May 7-8, 2022 May 18-22, 2022 June 3-4, 2022 June 3-5, 2022 June 3-5, 2022 June 3-5, 2022 June 4-5, 2022 June 10-12, 2022 June 10-12, 2022 June 11-12, 2022 June 17-19, 2022 June 17-19 , 2021
Dismal Swamp Rangers Early Bird Palmetto Sharpshooters 20th Georgia Southampton Greys Chesapeake Region Tucker’s Naval Brigade 149th PVI Spring Potomac 27th NC Troops 14th Mississippi 114th Illinois 10th Mass Battery Tidewater Spring Regional 111th OVI CV Regional 1st US Art Battery K 34th Virginia Cavalry Spring Nationals 145th Commanders Skirmish Sherman’s Bodyguards
TW AL CR DS TW CH TW MA PT CR DS WR EN TW NW CV NE EN
Capron, VA Ft. Shenandoah Statesville, NC Brierfield, AL Capron, VA Ft. Shenandoah Capron, VA Springtown, PA Ft. Shenandoah Statesville, NC Brierfield, AL Loami, IL Hopkinton, MA Capron, VA Maybee, MI Ft. Shenandoah Franklinville, NY Redding, MA Ft. Shenandoah CR Statesville, NC MW Centerburg, OH th 6 PA Cavalry, Les Flint Memorial MA Springtown PA th 8 Heavy Artillery NE Franklinville, NY Wisconsin WR Appleton, WI Cockade Skirmish CV Ft. Shenandoah th 4 Tennessee DS Brierfield, AL th 14 Virginia Cavalry EN Saratoga, NY Northwest Host NW Laingsburg, MI th 9 NY Cavalry NE Erie, PA
June 18, 2022
Work Skirmish
June 24-26, 2022
Mason Dixon 110th OVI
June 24-26, 2022
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Ft. Shenandoah Chantilly, Virginia Brierfield, AL Denhamville, Eatonton,GA
Ft. Shenandoah CH
Ft. Shenandoah
MW
Pleasant Hill, OH
June 24-26, 2022 June 25-26, 2022 June 25-26, 2022 July 8-10, 2022 July 15-17, 2022 July 15-17, 2022 July 16-17, 2022 July 16-17, 2022 July 22-24, 2022 July 22-23, 2022 July 29-31, 2022 July 29-31, 2022 July 30-31, 2022 August 6, 2022 August 12-14, 2022 August 13-14, 2022 August 18-20, 2022 August 19-21, 2022 August 19-21, 2022 August 26-28, 2022 August 26-28, 2022 August 26-28, 2022 August 26-28, 2022 August 27-28, 2022 September 9-11, 2022 September 9-11, 2022 September 9-11, 2022 September 9-11, 2022 September 9-11, 2022 September 9-11, 2022 September 10-11, 2022 September 16-18, 2022 September 17-18, 2022 September 23-25, 2022 October 5-9, 2022 October 21-23, 2022 October 21-23, 2022 October 22-23, 2022 October 28-30, 2022 November 4-6, 2022 November 4-6, 2022 November 11-13, 2022
22 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
Lancaster Fencibles 120th NYVI BatteryH/1st Ill Lt Arty McNeil’s Rangers Veteran’s Skirmish 72nd New York VI 1st & 15h CVI Wisconsin Midwest Regional Terry’s Texas Rangers Northwest Host Delaware Blues 1st US Sharpshooters Board of Director’s Meeting Alleghany Region 14th CVI Wainwright 19th Indiana Northwest Host Gator Skirmish 3rd Georgia Union Guards 63rd NYSV Illinois Fall Potomac Carolina Region Host Battery C Old Dominion Dragoons Co B, 1st PA Cavalry 149th NYVI 4th Virginia 4th Kentucky Wisconsin Tidewater Fall Regional Fall Nationals 146th Dulany Troops Tidewater Cancer Shoot Commanders Shoot Halloween Forrests Escort Company Last Chance Carolina Homecoming
MA EN WR CH NE EN WR MW NE NW MA WR AL EN MW NW CV DS MW NE WR PT CR NW TW MA NE EN MW WR TW PT TW EN PT DS TW CR
Drumore, PA Saratoga, NY Streator, IL Ft. Shenandoah Ft. Shenandoah Dansville, NY Glastonbury, CT Bristol, WI Centerburg, OH Fulton, NY Laingsburg, MI Drumore, PA Beloit, WI Winchester, Virginia Ft. Shenandoah Glastonbury, CT Ft. Shenandoah Batesville, IN Maybee, MI Ft. Shenandoah Brierfield, AL Pleasant Hill, OH Fulton, NY Beloit, WI Ft. Shenandoah Statesville, NC Maybee, MI Capron, VA Springtown, PA Dansville, NY Hopkinton, MA Centerburg, OH Bristol, WI Capron, VA Ft. Shenandoah Ft. Shenandoah Capron, VA Saratoga, NY Ft. Shenandoah Eva, TN Capron, VA Statesville, NC
NORTH-SOUTH SKIRMISH ASSOCIATION 2022 National Officer Nomination Form
The Chairman of the Nominating Committee must receive this completed nomination form no later than May 1, 2022, for your candidate to be listed on the slate presented to the Membership at the May 2022 meeting. All forms must be mailed to: Douglas Walter 47 Hillcrest Dr. Biglerville, PA 17307 Dwalter47@comcast.net
The members of (Unit name and seniority #) ___ ___________ Nominate (Candidate name and competitor #) _ ______________ For the office of: Commander
Deputy Commander ______
Adjutant ________ Inspector General ________ Signature of Team Officer __________________________________________________ I accept the nomination. (Candidate Signature) __________________________________
CANDIDATE'S QUALIFICATIONS:
PRIOR SERVICE TO N-SSA:
. PERSONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
CANDIDATE'S STATEMENT:
Use additional sheets if necessary. Please include a recent photograph of the candidate with this nomination. A complete slate of candidates for office will appear in the summer issue of the Skirmish Line and will be posted on the N-SSA Bulletin Board.
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Hearty Venison Chili By Your Favorite Swamprat Editor How to Make Venison Chili
When the temperature starts to drop, there’s nothing better than coming inside to a big pot of simmering chili. Add some biscuits or cornbread, and you’ve got a hearty winter meal that’ll keep you going even on the coldest days. You can make chili with just about any type of meat, including beef, chicken, turkey, and sausage. But one of our favorite varieties is venison chili. It’s got a distinct flavor that can’t be replicated, and the spices and vegetables are the perfect complements to the lean deer meat. Besides, I need to use up last years venison.
How to Make Venison Chili
If you’ve been working in the kitchen for a while, you’ve probably got your own favorite chili recipe. You can substitute the usual beef or chicken with venison, but we think this recipe brings out the flavors of the venison without overpowering it. Try it out and see what you think! You might just find with Venison Chili that you have a new favorite chili recipe in your household.
Venison Chili Ingredients 1 pound ground venison 1 can diced tomatoes 1 can chicken broth 1 can red kidney beans 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 chopped jalapeño pepper 4 minced garlic cloves 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Directions
1. Place a dutch oven on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the ground venison to the pan and cook for a few minutes until the meat has browned. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside. 2. Lower the heat to medium, then add the bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, onion, and garlic to the pan. Cook for ten minutes until the ingredients have softened. 3. Add the chili powder, salt, cumin, and pepper. Stir in the venison, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste, then bring the pot to a boil. 4. Once the pot starts to boil, cover the pot and reduce the heat. Let the ingredients simmer for 30 minutes. 5. Remove the lid and add the kidney beans. Let the chili simmer for another 15 minutes. Spoon the chili into bowls and serve!
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2021Society of Color Bearers Proud donors to the N-SSA
By Wayne Jordan, Charitable Giving Committee The year 2021 was another outstanding year for donations to the N-SSA. We received 250 donations that totaled $68,971.00. This was our best year ever for donations, almost all of which come from our members. These donations have a significant effect on our association’s finances. This gives us financial security, provides funds for needed projects, and keeps the dues from going up. For the first time this year we had a member donate shares of stock (worth over $1000). We had more people donating directly from their IRA accounts (a very tax smart move). More people are starting to set up Donor Advised Charitable Trusts with their brokers and use those funds to donate to the N-SSA (also a very tax smart way to make donations). And donations through Paypal on the N-SSA.org webpage are growing. A few people drop off donations at the Doc’s Place Store in Sutler’s Row each Nationals. Of course, most donations come in by checks sent in the return envelopes that are provided in issues of the Skirmish Line and in direct mail appeals. Also, Amazon Smile has sent us nearly $1000 this year from all the purchases that skirmishers have made on their site (you must sign up for the Smile program). And a member recently contacted me about including the N-SSA in his will. Seventy-one of these donations were designated for a specific purpose. Many were in Memory of a fallen skirmisher. Others were for projects that we’ve raised money for, or for a purpose that the donor felt needed to be funded. Of the specific projects that we’ve raised money for, I’d like to summarize their status: The Bathroom Rehab projects – Tim put many hours in to fixing up the bathrooms by the pistol range this year and they are quite improved. Work will start on the bathrooms by the Stat Shack very soon. There should be enough money left over afterward to take a look at rehabbing the bathrooms across from Sutler’s Row. Also, funds are still available for any team, region, or other group who would like to fixup other bathroom facilities at Fort Shenandoah. Nearly $11,000 was donated to the bathroom projects. The Range Generator – It has been installed in the tower along with a new electrical panel and transfer switch. This project came in under budget in part due to the donation of labor and parts by Ralph Shaw. Besides being a backup 25 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
for emergency power loss, it is also used for various maintenance functions on the Range. The Pistol Range PA System - New speakers and amplifier are being researched now and should be installed before long. Doc’s Place Store on Sutler’s Row – Plans are being made to rehab the store and install the new POS system. The N-SSA Museum & Historical Center – The museum has been reopened and looks beautiful inside. I hope everyone will make a point of touring it at the Spring Nationals. A couple of benches for the front porch were recently donated by John Wells, so drop by and make yourself comfortable. There are still a few finishing touches being put on the museum, and some technology is being installed. The Batwing Bush Hog Lawnmower – In recent months well over half the cost of this expensive piece of necessary equipment for the upkeep of our National Range has been donated by our members. Without the support of the hundreds of members who have made donations to finance these projects it would be difficult to bring them to fruition. If you donated, please put your Society of Color Bearers Donor Decal on your car, truck, trailer, or gun box. If you see someone displaying this decal, let them know you appreciate their support for the N-SSA. Meanwhile, a new year has started and we are looking for new donations to the N-SSA. I’m also always looking for worthy causes to raise money for, so if anybody has any ideas feel free to contact me to discuss them. I can be reached at wvjordan@aol.com or 703-407-2445, and donations can be mailed to me at N-SSA, c/o Wayne Jordan, 8606 Eagle Glen Terrace, Fairfax Station, Va 22039 (or use one of our return envelopes that may be laying around your home or in a Skirmish Line that you still have). Below is a list of the 2021 donors, by category. There is also a supplementary list of donors who have answered the call for specific projects that needed funding, and also donations for other specific purposes or dedications. Anyone who donated over $1000 is listed as a Sponsor of that project.
2021 DONOR LIST Sergeant Major ($5000+) Dana, Robert & Anne Jordan, Wayne & Joy
Ordnance Sergeant ($2500-$4999) Burgess, James Kapper, Jr, Frank Zebelean, III, John
First Sergeant ($1000-$2499) Allegheny Region Coates, Earl Conway, Jack Dennis, Mark Funk, Larry Mark, John Miller, Bruce & Terri Washington Blue Rifles Wells, John
Sergeant ($500-$999)
Amazon Smile (Be sure to utilize this feature!) Back Creek Gun Shop DeFrancisci, Chris Estok, John Gaede, Fred Harbin, Rod Hill, Nancy & Richard Landers, David Napier, Thomas Sims III, Benjamin Taylor, Nick Ward, Jeremy Wood, James
Corporal ($250-$499) 1st Pa Rifles Bucktails 4th Va Inf Anderson, Lars Bondurant, Charlie Booz, David & Barbara Brown, John Budzynski, Joe & Nick Clowdis, K. Blair Corrigan, Richard Dorner, Steve Druen, Raymond Hall, Jeffrey Heizer, William Hovatter, Kent Kapper, Sr, Francis Laake, P A Lindstrom, Alan
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Newman, Dan & Mary Anne Nolte, Paul & Mabel Pond, Steve
Bugler ($100-$249) 14th Va Cavalry 19th Michigan Vol inf Acton, Michael AFRC/Joe Cilenti Amazon Smile Angermaier, Dennis Balla, Carl Barker, Chuck Barker, Thomas Beck, Anton & Charlotte Bendy, Jr, Marvin Bertram, Eldon Best, III, Arthur & Alice Bohrer, David Boley, Nichael Bologna, John Brady, James Bratsch, John Brush Creek Ranch Campbell, Gordon Chance, Bob Chance, Robert Childs, Terry Chiswell’s Exiles Collins, David Conner, Duff Coumes, Jim Davenport, Mike Dobbins, Jim Easterling, Frank Elko, Anne Elko, Edward Elko, William Epler, Randy Folk, William Fox, Earl Freeman, Robert Garman III, Walter Gerstmyer, Andrew Giovannelli, Dominick Godshalk, Brenda Gravatt, Glenn Halbrooks, Perry Ham, Edward Hammond, Steven Hayes, Daniel & Yvonne Heiser, Doug Henley, Larraine & Thomas Herlinger, Fred Hesnan, James Holland, Lyle Holmes, David Jackson, Harry King, Allan
Klutas, Bob Koch, James Krafchick, Julia & Ned Lakota, Dmytro Laurion, Steven Lavinka, Thomas & Kimberly Loveless, Michael Magyar, James Maroney, Michael McDowell, Jeffrey Miller, Mark Moore, Kenneth Morrow, Betty Muckenhirn, Larry Nevlezar, Benjamin Nipar, John Powers, Skip Preston, Sr, Robert Propst, Bob Quail, James & Laurie Ramsey, Henry Reddick, Gordon Robb, Kevin Rollette, Don Romanchuk, Claudia Rowe, L R Ruggiero, Anthony Schell, Fred Sherman, J R Smith, J. Colby Smith, Jerry Smith, Warren Snair, Dale Snyder, Kent Sours, Donald Spaugy, Phil Stedman, Daniel Stogner, John Sutorius, Craig Thomas, John Wade, James Wainwright, Ralph Weber, Paul Wells, Steven Wenchel, John White, Tom & Karen Whitlock, David Whitlock, Frank Wilcox, Martin & Debra Wingenbach, David Wright, David Wright, E. Peter Zumstein, Bruce
Private (Up to $99) Anderson, John Anonymous(1) Bakley, Jr, Carlton Bell, Sr, James
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Bryant, Ronald Carbett, Christi Cramer, William Dietze, Daniel Dixon, Donald Dunnaway, Laneeta Early, Gene Evans, James Fiebig, Doug Fiebig, John Francis, Richard Giannobile, Louis Gill, Carter Graff, Dan Green, Bryan Hakes, John Halbrooks, Vann Harris, Scott Harris, Wilbert Hayes, John Hefferan, Peter Heiser, Douglas Hines, Bob Hobbs, Anne Horne, Norman Howey, Chris Hughes, Kenneth Kaye, Glenn Klug, Greg Knapp, Louis Krafchick, Ned Langston, Bruce & Carolyn Lease, Jeffrey Lucas, Jr, Nicholas Penney, Thomas Rambo, F. William Robertson, Michael Russell, James Shaw, Andrew Shepherd, John Shipe, Lowell Smith, Fred Stanley, Carolyn & James Tercenio, Gil Trasek, Jon Vice, Michael Wadel, Michael Ward, Brooke Ward, James Weber, Stephen Wiegand, Thomas
Editor Note: If you shop on Amazon please consider linking your Amazon Smile account to the N-SSA. If you are not already an AmazonSmile member, simply sign up at smile.amazon.com and select N-SSA as your favorite charity. A portion of every purchase will be donated to the organization.
Dedicated Donations
Sponsor denotes donation of $1000 or toward the project
Historical Center Benches - In Memory: Richard Gondek 19th Michigan Vol inf Sponsor Wells, John
1st Richmond Rifles Who In Memory: Sam Hanna Have Passed Away Historical Center computers 19th Michigan Vol inf Whitlock, Frank - Sponsor Mark, John In Memory: Steve Gabor, 4th Bathrooms Kentucky Anderson, John In Memory: Alex Gamble King, Allan Francis, Richard Washington Blue Rifles Hakes, John In Memory: Stuart Marchall & Ann Whitlock Batwing Lawnmower Sponsor In Memory: Ron Harbaugh Conway, Jack Jordan, Wayne & Joy Zebelean, John
Batwing Bush hog Lawnmower Davenport, Mike Easterling, Frank Gerstmyer, Andrew Hall, Jeffrey Hovatter, Kent Klutas, Bob Krafchick, Julia & Ned Lucas, Jr, Nicholas Russell, James Shaw, Andrew Wainwright, Ralph Ward, Jeremy
Doc’s Place POS Funk, Larry Jordan, Wayne & Joy Taylor, Nick
Donated Shoot Fees 1st Pa Rifles Bucktails
Generator
Anderson, John
Weber, Paul
Whitlock, David
In Memory: Thomas E. Johnson, In Memory: Anita Kapper/ Jr Brush Creek Ranch Youth Fund Carbett, Christi Keep the N-SSA Alive Dunnaway, Laneeta Godshalk, Brenda Halbrooks, Perry Halbrooks, Vann Henley, Larraine & Thomas Kapper, Jr, Frank Kapper, Sr, Francis
Heiser, Douglas
in Memory: Anne Dana
Davenport, Mike
AFRC/Joe Cilenti Dana, Robert Jordan, Wayne & Joy
Land Acquisition/Protection Funk, Larry
Marketing - Sponsor Miller, Bruce & Terri
Memorial Park
PA for BB gun matches Schell, Fred Range Fund Taylor, Nick
In Memory: Edwin T. (Tom) Range Improvement Wright, E. Peter Hobbs Hobbs, Anne Restroom Repairs, Area 5 In Memory: John Kiley 14th Va Cavalry
In Memory: Ken Covey
Bondurant, Charlie
Small Arms Committee Propst, Bob
Young Skirmisher Award
14th Va Cavalry
Chiswell’s Exiles 44th New York
Miller, Bruce
White, Tom & Karen
Nevlezar, Benjamin
Historical Center
In Memory: Kirk Stanley
Historical Center & Museum Youth Fund – Sponsor - Sponsor In Memory: Ken Enger and E Kapper, Jr, Frank Allegheny Region C Purtle Youth Fund Coates, Earl
Best, III, Arthur & Alice Dixon, Donald Funk, Larry Harris, Wilbert Hayes, Daniel & Yvonne
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Langston, Bruce & Carolyn Lavinka, Thomas & Kimberly Morrow, Betty Stanley, Carolyn & James
REMEMBERING JOHN ALLEN SHARRETT, III October 2, 1943 – January 9, 2002 “John is the most giving individual in the most subtle ways . . . He is a shining example of how to lead --- selfless, giving, knowledgeable and respected” ~~~ E. R. “Mike” Davenport, Commander Dismal Swamp Rangers
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SNAP CAPS
Now,.. wait...For...It. Wait for what? The next command from the tower ?? No. The heckling from behind the firing line. “Do
The Best You Can, John !” “Go-o-o-o Swamp Rats !! You too, John !!” John knew it was coming. And from where. So, he turned, curled his upper lip, and tossed that first spent cap in the direction of the “heckler”. Always a good sport, John could “take it”. And, given the opportunity, he could certainly dish it out. Actually, he LOOKED, quite literally, for those opportunities. The errant minie ball that somehow dropped out of the sky twenty yards in front of its target; the ramrod fired down range; the splinter of wood that blasted off the frame for all to see. Months later, these “trophies” would find their way on to a special plaque. Then, along with the requisite Top Gun designations, they were ceremoniously presented to their humbled recipients at our Annual Christmas / Awards Banquet. I remember the year John bestowed a unique --- truly one of a kind --- Swamp Rat Clock on that member who just couldn’t seem to make it to a Skirmish on time. (Yes. I still have it, thank you very much!)
“HAPPY EYES” The bantering was always good natured. It contributed immeasurably to the comradery and brotherhood our Club has enjoyed over the years. After John’s funeral service I overheard someone describe him as having “happy eyes”. Hadn’t thought of that. But I think she’s right. Remember “the snarl”? That curled upper lip? Somewhat canine in appearance, but not particularly threatening. You couldn’t take it serious because he always delivered it with a “twinkle”; with “happy eyes” you might say. Now, if John liked you, then you’ve likely been “snarled” at. John liked my children. My (then middle school age) daughter adopted that snarl. Practiced it --- in the mirror --- till she got it right. Then waited for the perfect opportunity. It came. John snarled, she returned fire. It was great and John loved it!
It should be noted here that the snarl has served my daughter well, professionally speaking. As a high school teacher, she will occasionally lob one in the direction of a deserving student. Thank you, John, for your contribution to public education!
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FRIENDSHIPS John was at my wedding. He was there when each of my four children came along. In 1987 he was at the hospital when our twins were born. Nineteen years later, he’s on the campus of Virginia Military Institute where one of those kids is in his Rat Year. A visit from a family friend and dinner off campus was a welcome reprieve. John was good like that. If it was important to his friends, it was important to John. Winston Parker first met John when they worked together at Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company (now Verizon) beginning in 1969. “He instantly became a great friend. . . . a very patient teacher. When I chose to apply for a promotional transfer, John stayed by my side to assist in preparing me for that job.” In 1972 John invited Winston to join the Dismal Swamp Rangers. “Fifty years later, through the N-SSA, our friendship endured. I could not have imagined having a longer or stronger bond with anyone. . . all those who knew him can say the same.” Regardless of age, gender, religion, color or creed (even if you were a Yankee), John had a way of making people feel special. And that --- in large measure --- is why he was so special to us.
DSR / N-SSA John Allen Sharrett, III grew up in Portsmouth, Virginia where he played youth football under Coach Richard D. Dodd (Yep. Same guy). And that’s where John’s association with our Association began. He and the Coach shared an interest in Civil War history. Coach Dodd was an N-SSA member through the Portsmouth Light Artillery and by the age of 15, so was John. This was in 1958. By 1961, the two friends had co-founded Company A, Third Virginia Regiment --- aka Dismal Swamp Rangers (“Swamp Rats). John served multiple tours as DSR Commander helping to build a team that soon became a perennial contender at both the (TW) Regional and National levels. John, himself, often shot on the Tidewater Regional All – Star Teams. His leadership in the Region --- as a Skirmish Director, Historian, Public Information Officer, and later as Regional Commander (1970) --- laid the groundwork for higher office and more responsibility. Over the years, John spearheaded and contributed to many improvements on the Dr. Mills Britt Range at Ft. Mahone in Capron, Virginia. His help in establishing the Annual Tidewater Region Cancer Benefit Skirmish has raised in excess of $80,000 to support Cancer Research. For many years, John has built and sold wooden bee traps and bird houses (chances are you own at least one). And through those efforts he has been able to donate roughly $28,000 to the Cancer Fund. John Sharrett’s first role at the national level was as Chairman of the newly formed N-SSA Regional Boundary Committee. Other Committee assignments over the years include: Audit, 30 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
National Medals, Skirmish Procedures, Inspection Procedures, Program and Legislative amongst others. At the 46th National Skirmish (October, 1972), he was elected to serve as the Deputy National Commander. Then, following a second term as Deputy Commander, John Allen Sharrett, III became the Association’s seventh National Commander, serving three consecutive (2 year) terms ending in 1982.
LEADERSHIP John Sharrett’s service to the North-South Skirmish Association certainly did not end with his tenure as National Commander. That was one of the things about John. Leadership came naturally. He didn’t need the title, the office, the appointment, the stripes, the paygrade to get things done. He just did it. And he brought others along with him. Long time teammate Ben Harris remembers being kicked back; comfortably reading in his trailer at the DSR campsite. KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK . . . OMG, it’s Sharrett ! “Ben, I’m going to go do whatever, wherever because it needs doing. Why don’t you come help me?” And so, Ben went. As did we all. No matter how large or small, menial or monumental --- if it was a committee of one or an association of thousands --- John took it on. Signs for Sutlers Row, landscaping and signage for the Historical Center, new lamps and maintenance on the flagpoles in Memorial Park, the restoration of the lamps on the Bridge. John was instrumental in all of that. Likewise, the wiring of lights in the Barn, new electrical panels, clearing brush from the entrance and exit roads as well as significant financial support for other capital projects. And that’s the abbreviated list. Over his 60 + years as an N-SSA member, John Sharrett was awarded all three Pioneer Patches (white, silver, gold). He proudly wore his Skirmish Director’s Star, and the Service Stripe of Past National Commanders. And more recently, as many know, Mr. Sharrett was presented the N-SSA Distinguished Service Award AND the N-SSA Award of Merit. . . it doesn’t get any better than that! Aside from our two founders, it is likely that John Sharrett has devoted more time, more sweat equity, and had more influence on the betterment of the N-SSA than any other individual to date.
QUINTESSENTIAL HISTORIAN
COMMUNITY LEADER
It is important to our country that the story of the War Between the States be told. And that it be interpreted and presented as accurately as possible. John Sharrett understood this as well as anyone --- and better than most. It’s why he took the Historical and Educational component of the North-South Skirmish Association so seriously. His years of research, documentation, and efforts to preserve Confederate monuments in Virginia are well known. John’s work in this arena was recognized by the N-SSA with the History & Education Committee’s “Lee A. Wallace Individual Award” in 2007.
A sense of community was important to John and he served his by way of the Cypress Ruritan Club. Holding every position of responsibility --- including president --- at one time or another, he was involved in improving the lives of those less fortunate in his adopted hometown of Suffolk, Virginia.
Sgt. William B. Williams, Co. I, 50th VA INF REGT. (Wytheville, Virginia) was John Sharrett’s great, great, great uncle and thereby his path to membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans. John served as 1st LT CDR of the Stonewall Jackson Camp #380, Portsmouth, VA when it was chartered in 1978. Among the projects he initiated was the repair/replacement and maintenance of scores of Confederate headstones at Portsmouth’s Cedar Grove Cemetery. John was honored to be designated Commander Emeritus of Stonewall Camp #380 and received the SCV Virginia Division’s Heritage Defense Award amongst other recognitions during his many years of service.
And much too soon, it would seem. John had so much more to do. So much more to show us, so much more to teach us. There are targets left unhit. Goals set, yet to be accomplished. Not just another National Championship (though we are a bit overdue). But also, History lessons to teach the next generation. And Friendships to tend to . . . new ones to make, old ones to
“A true Southern Patriot, leader, gentleman and friend”. That’s the way John is remembered by Susan Lee of the Virginia Flaggers. She tells us that John gave the initial $100 gift when the group announced its first Interstate 95 Battle Flag project back in 2013. “He has been a supporter and friend ever since.” Lee credits John’s leadership in helping to bring to fruition the “beautiful and highly visible” Chesapeake Expressway Jackson Grays Memorial Battle Flag in January of 2017. It was their 26th roadside battle flag and the first for Southeastern Virginia.
CEASE FIRE. CEASE FIRE. TIME HAS BEEN CALLED
nurture.
THE LINE IS CLEAR ON THE LEFT / THE LINE IS CLEAR ON THE RIGHT THE LINE IS CLEAR And those of us that remain in the ranks may --- MUST --- go forward. It is important that we continue to build on what we have; that we continue to work hard to maintain the standards, the traditions, the ideals of the North-South Skirmish Association. John would hope for --- and expect --- no less of us. It won’t be easy without his guidance. But let us remind ourselves, and each other, to simply “Do the Best You Can”.
AND JUST ONE MORE THING (as John would say) It is fitting and proper that we honor and remember a man who gave so much to our organization and who paid tribute to the honor and memory of so many others along the way. In lieu of flowers, the family of John Allen Sharrett, III has asked that donations, in his memory, be made to the NorthSouth Skirmish Association, Stonewall Camp #380 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and /or the Virginia Flaggers. We hope that you will consider doing so.
~~~ Fred A. Brewer, Jr. Dismal Swamp Rangers 096TW 3138V
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When I first took this job the very first person I told after my wife and parents was John. My entire life John has been there for me. It was jokingly said since I was a child that he was my “Uncle John”. At first, I’m sure it was in jest because I’ll be the first to admit I was a bratty kid at times. But as I grew up and became a man that term Uncle took on a whole new meaning. He embraced it. Uncle John was always there for me. I can’t think of single Job, College Application or society that asked for a reference that I did not ask my Uncle John to be one of my references. John was a fierce competitor; I won numerous regional titles and ultimately won a national championship beside him and my father (honestly my favorite memory from shooting to this date). He pushed me to succeed in my craft not only on the skirmish line but in life. When I told him I was returning to school after years of being a first responder to become a therapist he of course had a joke and a jest, but he was nothing but supportive and told me to follow my goals and help those kids. We have lost so many people these past two years, each of them brings us sorrow so I do not wish to demean anyone who has passed away but Losing my Uncle John has hit me the hardest. He was a pillar of the organization and in my life. Shooting will never be the same without Uncle John on the line beside me. ~ Eddie Davenport Skirmish Line Editor. Below are a small selection of photos from Ben Harris of John over the years. There are more on page 59.
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Battle of Cedar Mountain (Battle of Slaughter’s Mountain) Northern Virginia Campaign Eastern Theater August 9th, 1862 By: Warhawk
“I have come to you from the West, where we have always seen the backs of our enemies; from an army whose business it has been to seek the adversary and to beat him when he was found; whose policy has been attack and not defense.” -
Maj. Gen. John Pope’s Address to the Union Army of Virginia July 14th, 1862
On June 26th, 1862, in accordance with General
Number Ten around New Madrid, Missouri, and at the Siege of
Orders No. 103 issued by President Lincoln and the U.S. War
Corinth in northeastern Mississippi during the Shiloh Campaign,
Department, a new Federal field army is formed in and around
where he was one of Henry Halleck’s more aggressive field
Washington, designated as the Army of Virginia. Lincoln, growing
commanders. Lincoln’s hope is that the aggressive John Pope will
frustrated with Major General George B. McClellan’s case of
be able to spur the Eastern Theater’s Federal armies into action
“the slows” on the Virginia Peninsula outside Richmond, has
and competently lead them to victory over General Robert E. Lee’s
organized this new army with the hopes of sending it overland
Army of Northern Virginia before finally capturing Richmond. The Army of Virginia is organized out of the old
towards Richmond from Northern Virginia, while McClellan’s Army of the Potomac would continue to menace the Confederate
commands of Major General John C. Frémont’s Mountain
capital from the Peninsula.
Department, Major General Nathaniel P. Banks’ Department of
Assuming command of this new Federal army is 40-year-
the Shenandoah, and Major General Irvin McDowell’s I Corps in
old Major General John Pope, who has been transferred from the
the Army of the Potomac. These forces, which are scattered across
Western Theater by orders of President Lincoln. Pope had been
the northern part of Virginia, form the nucleus of Pope’s new
one of the more aggressive army commanders in the West,
army.
having seen success on the Mississippi River at the Battle of Island
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Additional reinforcements are put together from
confrontational attitude and arrogance, but President Lincoln is
regiments made up of mostly German, Polish, Hungarian, Slavic,
well-aware of Sigel’s high popularity with European immigrants,
and other Eastern European immigrant volunteers, many of
and his role in helping sway and recruit these tired, poor, huddled
whom had come to America to start a new life for themselves
masses into Federal service for the war effort. And so, Sigel is
away from the politics of the Old World, only to be dragged
ordered to Washington in the summer of 1862 to take part in the
into their new homeland’s rapidly-expanding conflict. These
upcoming campaign against Richmond.
German and Eastern European volunteers in the Union Army
Major General Pope organizes the Army of Virginia
are commanded by popular or influential leaders from their
into three infantry corps, with Franz Sigel leading the I Corps,
communities - many of these prominent immigrants are former
Nathaniel P. Banks leading II Corps, and Irvin McDowell in
leaders or figures from the Revolutions of 1848 in Europe; these
command of III Corps.
men are known throughout their adopted country as “FortyEighters.” Among the Forty-Eighters in leadership roles within the
Pope, however, soon becomes widely unpopular with the men and officers of his command. Upon arriving in Washington, Pope issues an address to the troops under him on July 14th,
Army of Virginia are notable men such as German-Brunswick
where he arrogantly states, “I have come to you from the West,
army officer Adolph von Steinwehr, Hungarian soldier and
where we have always seen the backs of our enemies; from an
revolutionary Julius Stahel, German revolutionary leader
army whose business it has been to seek the adversary and to beat
Carl Schurz, former Prussian Army soldier and revolutionary
him when he was found; whose policy has been attack and not
Alexander Schimmelfennig, and the Polish nobleman
defense.” This blatant attack on the fighting spirit and courage
Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski.
of the common Union soldier in the East is met with anger and
Leading this colorful “melting pot” of Germans, Poles, Hungarians, Slavs, and other Eastern Europeans is Major General Franz Sigel, a politically-connected German Forty-Eighter who
frustration from the troops, who do not see themselves at fault for being put under poor and incompetent leadership in the past. To make matters worse, Major General Pope also
is highly-popular within the Northern immigrant communities;
begins to experience bureaucratic troubles with his new Army of
many of these men, some of whom can barely speak any English,
Virginia. Following the conclusion of McClellan’s unsuccessful
can often be heard saying, “I goes to fight mit Sigel.” General
Peninsula Campaign on July 1st at the Battle of Malvern
Sigel’s career in the Union Army had gotten off to a bad start
Hill, President Lincoln finally loses patience with the “Young
when his brigade was routed by Confederates at the Battle of
Napoleon”, and in mid-July orders the Army of the Potomac
Wilson’s Creek in northwest Missouri on August 10th, 1861,
commander to begin transferring his divisions off the Peninsula
ultimately leading to the Federals’ defeat in that early engagement.
to be recalled back to Washington, where they are to rendezvous
However, Sigel had managed to somewhat repair the damage
with Pope’s army.
done to his reputation with his gallant leadership in the Federal
Although the President promises “Little Mac” that he
artillery bombardment during the second day of the Battle of Pea
is still superior in rank to Pope, McClellan becomes incensed at
Ridge on March 8th, 1862.
the orders to recall his forces from the Peninsula and give them
Many of Franz Sigel’s fellow senior officers in the Army,
over to this upstart general from the West. And so, General
especially Nativists and former Know-Nothing Party members,
McClellan begins moving his Army of the Potomac off the
despise the German revolutionary-turned-politician for his
Virginia Peninsula back to Washington as ordered, but very
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slowly and cautiously, one division at a time, in a seemingly-
But when the Federals learn that Stonewall Jackson is advancing
deliberate attempt to undermine Pope. McClellan’s inability to
from Richmond with a force of unknown size, their mission
cooperate with John Pope in the upcoming campaign brings
changes abruptly from raiding to reconnaissance. Pope needs
great frustration to the latter general, who sees McClellan’s slow movements and caution as an attempt to set his Army of Virginia
information quickly about the size of Jackson’s force.
“I want Pope suppressed.”
up for failure in the new campaign against Richmond. Despite these backroom politics and feuding, Pope continues on with his planned Northern Virginia Campaign. Pope’s first substantive orders to his Army of Virginia dictate not the movement of his troops, but the behavior of his army. He permits men under his command to requisition food from Virginia farmers. He demands oaths of loyalty from male civilians within Union lines in Virginia. He dictates that local civilians would be held liable for damage done by Confederate raiders. In the summer of 1862, these measures by Pope are seen as radical and, to some Unionists, offensive. Leading the chorus of disapproval are McClellan and his closest confidant, Major General Fitz John Porter, commanding the Army of the Potomac’s V Corps. Porter labels Pope an “ass,” and predicts, “if the theory he proclaims is practiced, you may look for disaster.” General Robert E. Lee is likewise outraged at Pope’s radical measures against the populace of Virginia. Lee calls Pope a “miscreant” - strong language indeed from the modest General Lee - and declares that he “must be suppressed.” The Northern Virginia Campaign finally gets underway on July 19th, 1862. Pope orders Sigel’s I Corps to Sperryville, Banks’ II Corps to Little Washington, and one division of McDowell’s III Corps to Waterloo Bridge, leaving his other division at Fredericksburg to guard the lower Rappahannock River. In preparation for a raid on the vital railroad hub of Gordonsville, where the Virginia Central Railroad connects the Confederate capital of Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley and to Tennessee, Pope orders Brigadier General Samuel W. Crawford’s 1st Brigade of Alpheus S. Williams’ First Division in II Corps south to Culpeper to support Federal cavalry massing for the raid.
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-
Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Orders to -
Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson
After the conclusion of the Seven Days Battles and the Peninsula Campaign, in early July of 1862, General Robert E. Lee reorganizes his massive and unwieldy Army of Northern Virginia into a two-corps structure along with supporting cavalry and artillery commands. These two infantry corps, which Lee designates as “Wings” of his army, are placed under the command of his two most trusted lieutenants: Major Generals James Longstreet and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Longstreet takes command of the Right Wing, while Jackson leads the Left Wing. When Lee realizes that McClellan is content to sit idly on the banks of the James River, on July 16th he orders Stonewall Jackson north from Richmond with two divisions. Jackson arrives in Gordonsville three days later. On July 29th, his Left Wing is reinforced by Major General A. P. Hill’s Light Division. These reinforcements double Jackson’s Left Wing and gives him the strength necessary to overwhelm any one of the three Federal infantry corps of the Army of Virginia, which is spread along a wide arc from Fredericksburg in the east to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west. The addition of Hill’s Light Division to his independent command gives Jackson the ability to overwhelm a portion of Pope’s army, just as he had done to his foes in the Shenandoah Valley several months earlier, if he could strike the enemy before support could arrive. To do this, Jackson hopes to reach Culpeper before the Federals can secure it in order to control its vital road network. His first target would be Banks who Jackson learns from his scouts recently has been ordered to Culpeper by Pope. On August 7th, Jackson delivers orders of his own to
his three divisions to march eight miles from Gordonsville to the
dust fill the air, clogging men’s throats and eyes. Jackson rides with
vicinity of Orange Court House. From there, he hopes to reach
his cap pulled down to keep the sun from his eyes. To those who
Culpeper the following day. When Federal scouts report the
ride past him, he seems preoccupied, as well he might be.
movement to Pope, the Union general orders Sigel’s I Corps and
The night before, Union cavalry had raided his bivouac,
the rest of Banks’ II Corps to converge on Culpeper. Banks arrives
setting off a firestorm of musket fire at three o’clock in the
there on August 8th, but Sigel does not arrive until the following
morning. Jackson frets constantly about the 1,200 wagons the
day.
army has rumbling along in its train. When his personal surgeon, With the arrival of Hill’s Light Division, Jackson has
Hunter McGuire, asks Jackson if he expects a battle that day,
under his command in the Left Wing about 24,000 men organized
Jackson flashes the hint of a smile. “Banks is on our front, and he
into three divisions. Hill’s 12,000-strong Light Division comprises
is generally willing to fight,” says Jackson, adding in an aside, “and
six brigades, while Major General Richard S. Ewell’s Division and
he generally gets whipped.” Then he falls silent again.
Jackson’s Division, under Brigadier General Charles S. Winder,
While the Confederate commander frets, the enemy
has 7,000 and 4,000 men, respectively. In addition, Jackson has
begins to move. Samuel Crawford, a brigadier with a solid record
Brigadier General Beverly Robertson’s Brigade of cavalry, 1,000
that stretches back to the opening days of the war, leaves Culpeper
strong.
at noon on August 8th, taking with him two artillery batteries The command that Jackson leads is considerably larger
to support the Federal cavalry operating south of the town. On
than the one he had commanded in the Shenandoah Valley earlier
August 9th, the rest of Banks’s II Corps, roughly 8,000 men, joins
in the year. It would prove difficult for Jackson to manage his Left
Crawford on the high ground between the two branches of Cedar
Wing, both on the march and on the field of battle. The campaign
Run. The five Federal infantry brigades deploy in line of battle
gets off to a poor start when Jackson’s famous “foot cavalry”
along a two-mile front to await the Confederate attack.
manages to march only a half dozen miles on August 8th - not
Banks is considered by his contemporaries to be an
the 20 miles a day for which it is noted. Winder, who has been
aggressive general. He had been soundly whipped a few months
sick with a fever and is under orders to rest, receives Jackson’s
before by Jackson in the northern Shenandoah Valley, and he
permission to return to his command for the pending battle.
is looking to even the score. Despite Pope’s warning to wait for reinforcements, Banks has no intention of staying on the defensive if an opportunity presents itself to strike Jackson a hard
“Banks is on our front, and he is generally willing to fight, and he generally gets whipped.” -
Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson, CSA August 8th, 1862
blow. The fact that he has stationed his troops in line of battle astride the Culpeper Road is intended as a direct challenge to his foe. This is not at all what Pope has in mind, but Banks has a mind of his own. The Confederate vanguard, composed of the three brigades of Ewell’s Division, arrive at Cedar Mountain - also
The August sun bakes the Southerners as they march
called Slaughter’s Mountain, after Revolutionary War Captain
north, and the heat shows no mercy to the troops, regardless
Phillip Slaughter - in the early afternoon of Saturday, August
of rank or branch of service. The narrow road is jammed with
9th, 1862, but it would be several hours before the Confederates
ammunition wagons, artillery, and ambulances. Thick clouds of
are deployed in an effective line of battle. Brigadier General
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Jubal A. Early deploys his Confederate brigade in the fields of
one at a time. First, he sends Colonel Thomas S. Garnett’s Brigade
the Crittenden Farm south of the Culpeper Road. Early pushes
into the woods bordering a large wheat field immediately north of
out a skirmish line, accompanied by a section of 12-pounder
the Culpeper Road.
Napoleon cannons from D’Aquins Battery of the Louisiana Guard
Next, Winder directs Brigadier General William B.
Artillery, and sends the Union pickets flying. He heads toward the
Taliaferro’s Brigade of Virginians and Alabamians south of the
intersection of Culpeper Road and Madison Court House Road,
turnpike to support the left flank of Early’s Brigade. Lastly, he
just west of the mountain.
orders Colonel Charles Ronald’s Brigade, the famed Stonewall
The Battle of Cedar Mountain, also known as the Battle of Slaughter’s Mountain, begins proper when Federal artillery
Brigade, through the woods north of the road to take up positions on Garnett’s left flank.
organized into a grand battery opens up on Early’s Brigade at the
While Garnett and Taliaferro executed their orders
Crittenden Farm from their position on Mitchell’s Station Road,
admirably, Ronald ends up far beyond and behind Garnett’s left
which runs perpendicular to the Culpeper Road. The feisty Early,
flank. The Stonewall Brigade comes to a halt in a tree line on
still aching from a shoulder wound he had suffered at the Battle
the western end of a smaller field north of the one upon which
of Williamsburg back in May, would have to fight alone while
Garnett is positioned. The “brushy field,” as it is referred to in
Ewell takes the other two brigades of his division along the base
contemporary accounts, is not where Winder has wanted the
of Cedar Mountain. The two brigades travel undetected on a road
brigade placed. Ronald’s failure to effectively carry out Winder’s
through the woods. Their objective is to seize the high ground at
orders nearly costs the Confederates the battle almost before it
the eastern end of the mountain. When Ewell reaches the eastern
starts.
edge of the mountain, he places two parts of Latimer’s Virginia Battery on the commanding hill. Because the units are nearly a mile apart, Early would
Banks deployed Brigadier General Christopher C. Auger’s Second Division, comprising three brigades, south of the Culpeper Road, and Brigadier General Alpheus S. Williams’
have to rely on his own wits and the two other Confederate
First Division, consisting of two brigades, north of the road. The
divisions for support. He personally leads a reconnaissance party
Federal right flank overlaps the Confederate left flank by nearly
that locates an old farm lane that diverges from the main road
300 yards. Both Jackson and Winder are unaware that the wooded
and spills out into the woods directly onto the farmland where
ground north of the Culpeper Road presents a golden opportunity
the Union cavalry is forming. As Early’s men creep through the
to the Federals to outflank the Confederates if they can attack
woods, Confederate artillery opens up on the unseen Federals
before Jackson is able to extend his line.
who lie beyond the rolling farmland. The Federals respond with
As Jackson awaits the arrival of Hill’s Light Division
a splendid salvo of counterfire from their grand battery that
before committing himself to battle, the two opposing sides
showers the choleric Early with dust. By 3:00 PM, Early is in
engage in a ferocious artillery duel. Beginning at about 4:00 PM,
position and awaiting the deployment of Jackson’s Division, under
the Union and Confederate gunners dueled for nearly two hours
Winder.
across open ground from 900 yards apart. Unlike the Federal Before deploying his infantry, Winder places his batteries
guns, which are concentrated in their grand battery near the
just south of the Culpeper Road, near the gate that marks the
intersection of the Culpeper Road and Mitchell’s Station Road, the
entrance to the Crittenden Farm. As his brigades arrive on the
Confederates have deployed their guns in four separate positions
battlefield at the Crittenden Gate, Winder sends them forward
between the Culpeper Road and Cedar Mountain.
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The placement of the Southern guns in clusters allows
Federal troops are massing opposite the Confederate left flank. He
them to bring a converging fire on the Federal batteries that is so
personally inspects his left on horseback, but finds no evidence of
effective the Northerners have to withdraw their guns more than
an impending attack. Jackson, who is devoting most of his time
once during the cannonade. Still, the Federal guns slow the pace
to the situation south of the Culpeper Road, also inspects the left
at which the Confederate infantry can deploy and substantially
flank. Before riding away, Jackson tells Garnett to watch his left
delays Jackson’s advance.
flank closely and, if necessary, request support from Taliaferro.
Once the artillery contest is in full swing, the ailing
While the Confederates are busy correcting the kinks
Brigadier General Winder becomes engrossed in the exchange,
in their deployment, the Federals south of the Culpeper Road
much to the detriment of his division. At one point, he orders
attack. Leaving behind Brigadier General George S. Greene’s
Garnett to prepare to charge across the open ground in front
understrength 3rd Brigade, Auger sends John Geary’s 1st Brigade
of Early to seize the Federal battery he believes is unprotected.
and Henry Prince’s 2nd Brigade forward at 5:45 PM against the
To carry out these orders, Garnett is forced to face two of his
Confederate right flank. Major General Banks watches intently
regiments south along the Culpeper Road, rather than east toward
from just north of the Culpeper Road as his blue ranks are
the Federal infantry on the opposite side of the wheat field. This
swallowed up by the mature corn growing on the Crittenden
further weakens the Confederate left flank. Although he complies
Farm. Across the field, Jackson sits atop his horse next to
with the order, Garnett sends word back to Winder that the
Taliaferro’s position. As the Federals approach, Jackson rises in his
enemy guns can not be taken because they are supported by both
saddle and watches closely to see how his soldiers will meet the
infantry and cavalry. Instead of sorting out the problem, Winder
enemy attack.
orders Garnett to keep the regiments aligned as instructed, and he turns his attention back to the artillery contest. While Winder is directing the artillery fire near the
The forces facing each other on the Crittenden Farm are nearly equal. The Federals field 10 regiments and one battalion; the Confederates match the attackers with nine regiments and
Crittenden Gate, a shell comes whistling down from one of the
a battalion. Geary’s 1st Brigade advances on the right toward
Federal batteries and strikes him on the left side, nearly tearing
Taliaferro’s Brigade, while Prince’s 2nd Brigade advances on the
off his arm at the elbow. The general quivers and drops to the
left toward Early’s Brigade line. Auger is struck in the back by a
ground with what is described as “a tremendous hole in his side.”
bullet in the first few minutes of the attack and carried to the rear.
A surgeon examines his wounds and deems them fatal. Winder
Geary advances first in double line formation with two
is carried on a stretcher to the rear, where he dies less than two
regiments forward - the 7th and and 66th Ohio - and another
hours later. Jackson, hearing of the incident, raises his arm and
two regiments - the 5th and 29th Ohio - in reserve. Prince’s 2nd
bows his head for a moment of silent prayer.
Brigade attacks in two battle lines with the 102nd New York and
The wounding of General Winder at 4:45 PM means that Brigadier General Taliaferro would now assume command of Winder’s Division, while command of his brigade would go to his
109th Pennsylvania on his left flank and the 3rd Maryland and 111th Pennsylvania attacking on his right. As the fighting grows in intensity, Early sends word to
brother, Colonel Alexander G. Taliaferro. The task that William B.
Jackson that he needs reinforcements quickly in order to hold
Taliaferro inherits is a difficult one. Neither Winder nor Jackson
back the Federals. In response to the Federal advance, Ewell’s
have apprised him of their orders.
guns on Cedar Mountain switch their attention from the enemy
What is more, Taliaferro begins receiving reports that
38 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
artillery to the Federal infantry on the plain below. When Early’s
messenger arrives, Jackson sends a courier to A. P. Hill urging
the Confederates occupy what appears to be a strong position
him to hurry forward with his troops. Help is not far away.
along a fence line, the Union soldiers finally prevail in the bloody
Brigadier General Edward L. Thomas’ Brigade had been marching
melee.
at the double quick for the last mile of their 10-mile march that
Crawford’s brigade has the good fortune of finding
day. When the Georgians come pounding up the Culpeper Road,
the Confederate left flank in the air. The Stonewall Brigade is
Jackson rides to meet them, hailing them as they arrive by waving
farther to the left, but it has not yet advanced to the wheat field.
his cap above his head. The Georgians respond with a loud cheer
Worse yet, two of Garnett’s regiments are not even facing in
before moving to Early’s support.
the direction of the attack. The 1st Virginia (Irish) Battalion of
Just when Jackson has stabilized his right, his left becomes unglued. From his position near Early’s Brigade,
Garnett’s Brigade reacts to the Federal attack like a man bitten by a rattlesnake.
Jackson’s attention is drawn to loud rolls of musketry to the north.
Panic spreads from one soldier to the next. Dozens
He tries to see what is unfolding through his field glasses, but
fall alongside the fence in a matter of minutes. In no time, the
his line of sight is blocked by both the rolling terrain and thick
Federals are over the fence and chasing their enemy through the
woods. When a courier tells him his left has been turned, Jackson
woods. A number of the soldiers in the 1st Virginia Battalion
spurs his horse and gallops back up the Confederate line. Fearing
simply drop their rifles and flee without looking back. The
the worst, he begins ordering to the rear the rifled artillery near
Federals change front to the east and roll down the line in the
the Crittenden Gate where the farm road exits the Culpeper Road.
direction of the 42nd and 48th Virginia regiments. To stem the
Meanwhile, Crawford’s 1st Brigade of Williams’ division
blue tide, these units would have to hold, and the Confederate
lies concealed for most of the hot August afternoon in the woods
command would have to rush reinforcements to the spot.
along the banks of Cedar Run, where it can not be seen by the
Otherwise, the day would belong to the Federals.
enemy units forming up on the Confederate left. Just before dusk,
By taking Garnett’s Brigade in the flank, Crawford is able
when the length of the men’s shadows on the ground exceeds
to multiply the effect of his attack manyfold over a frontal attack.
their height, some 1,500 Union troops emerge from the woods
His objective has been the guns near the Crittenden Gate that
and prepare to advance across a stubbled wheat field to engage
Jackson has so wisely sent to the rear. Even though the guns are
their foe. They dress ranks, cross a fence, and with a loud cheer
now safe, Jackson’s entire line is slowly unraveling. Jackson writes
of “Huzzah!” rush downhill toward the Confederate line. To the
after the battle that the Federals “fell with great vigor” on his left
Virginians of Garnett’s Brigade, which occupy a nearly identical
flank. Unless he stabilizes it, his Left Wing is on the verge of a
wood on the opposite side of the wheat field, the attacking blue line seems to extend indefinitely in both directions. Before Crawford’s 1st Brigade has advanced halfway toward its objective, the first of several musket volleys erupts
major disaster.
“Jackson is with you! Rally, brave men, and press forward! Your general will lead you! Jackson will lead you! Follow me!”
from Garnett’s Confederates. The musket fire soon becomes one continuous roar, like a never-ending peal of thunder. The Federals continue to advance despite the storm of lead, pausing briefly at the tree line before closing with their enemy. Soldiers swing their rifles like clubs and thrust at each other with bayonets. Although
39 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
-
Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson to the Stonewall Brigade
August 9th, 1862 The Federals steadily drive their enemy before them. The
28th New York advances on the right, while the 5th Connecticut
Leaving General Hill to do as he has been told, Jackson
advances on the left. Interspersed with these regiments are
rides to the Crittenden Gate, where he finds large numbers of men
elements of the 46th Pennsylvania. While the Confederate 1st
from Winder’s Division seeking protection in the woods south
Virginia (Irish) Battalion has fled without much of a fight, the
of the Crittenden Gate. Oblivious to personal danger, Jackson
42nd Virginia stands its ground until fire from both the front
rides into the mass as bullets fly around him. In an effort to rally
and rear forces it to retreat as well. The 21st Virginia and 48th
the men, Jackson tries to draw his sword, but finds it rusted in its
Virginia, which are facing south along the Culpeper Road, are
scabbard. He unhooks it from his belt and waves the scabbard in
the unluckiest of all. They do not discern what is happening until
an effort to get his men to reform.
some of their numbers are shot in the back. Still, they try valiantly
Thinking that this is not enough, he snatches a
to fend off the attack. The two sides fight hand to hand in the
Confederate battle flag and begins beseeching the men to fight
thick woods. Soon, Garnett’s entire brigade is routed from the
with his scabbard in one hand and a Confederate battle flag in the
field.
other. “Jackson is with you!” he cries. “Rally, brave men, and press When the Stonewall Brigade finally advances, it catches
forward! Your general will lead you! Jackson will lead you! Follow
the rear elements of Crawford’s attack in the flank. Two regiments
me!” When only a few dozen men stop, he yells: “Rally men!
of the Stonewall Brigade form along the fence line bordering the
Remember Winder! Forward, men, forward!” Jackson is able to
wheat field across which Crawford attacked, while the remaining
form parts of Garnett’s and Taliaferro’s brigades into a new line.
three regiments advance through the brushy field next to it. These
At that point, Taliafferro rides over to Jackson and implores him
three regiments wheel to change front before firing into the 3rd
to retire. “Good, good,” Jackson says in his usual taciturn manner,
Wisconsin, which has been detached from Brigadier General
before riding to the rear.
George H. Gordon’s 3rd Brigade and assigned to Crawford.
Major General Banks fails to follow up Crawford’s attack
Crawford’s troops pour out of the woods, cross the
with reinforcements, even though Gordon’s 3rd Brigade, the other
Culpeper Road, and charge Talaiferro’s Brigade. They quickly rout
unit in Williams’s First Division, has not yet been committed to
two green regiments on Taliaferro’s left flank - the 47th Alabama
the battle. Without support, the survivors of Crawford’s attack
and 37tH Virginia. The other regiments fall back but continue
have no choice but to retreat along their line of attack. There
fighting. Early, who has just finished placing Thomas’ Brigade on
follows a series of inept moves by Banks and his subordinates.
his far right flank, gallops over a ridge and finds half his brigade
The first is the advance of the 10th Maine. The regiment, which
gone.
has been detached from Crawford’s brigade to guard a Federal The Confederate line stabilizes temporarily when four
battery, is sent alone into the wheat field at about 6:30 PM, where
well-served guns of the Middlesex Artillery under the command
it is sacrificed to no clear advantage. Next, Banks unnecessarily
of Captain Willie Pegram fire canister at point-blank range into
sacrifices the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry to cover the withdrawal of
the Yankee tide. Shortly afterward, Crawford’s attack runs out of
his artillery, losing 93 horsemen in the futile charge.
steam. Meanwhile, Jackson finds Major General Hill and orders
At dusk, Gordon’s 3rdBrigade arrives opposite Archer’s
him to deploy the rest of his Light Division immediately. The
Brigade, but it is too late to help Crawford. Gordon’s men have
troops of Brigadier General Lawrence O’Bryan Branch’s Brigade
marched nearly a mile to the battle at the double-quick. Their
advance first and are soon followed by those of Brigadier General
effectiveness is greatly reduced by the difficulty they have telling
James Archer’s Brigade.
friend from foe in the wheat field in the gathering darkness.
40 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
As Gordon’s men are deploying, the men of the Stonewall
As the moon rises in the night sky, Jackson pushes two
Brigade descend on Crawford’s brigade as it limps back across
reserve brigades of Hill’s Light Division and substantial artillery
the wheat field. The 5th Virginia charges across the open ground
up the road toward Culpeper. But Pope has already arrived on
with fixed bayonets and plucks from the retreating troops the
the battlefield and constructed a strong new line with fresh
flags of the 5th Connecticut and 28th New York. When Brigadier
troops from Major General James B. Ricketts’ Second Division of
General Dorsey Pender’s Brigade, another of Hill’s fresh units,
McDowell’s III Corps. After a “reconnaissance by artillery” proves
joins Branch and Archer on the Confederate left flank, Gordon’s
that the Federals hold the road in strength, Jackson breaks off his
brigade finds itself in great peril.
advance near midnight. The battle is finally over. After drinking a
Jackson issues orders directly to both Pender and Branch. He sends Pender through the woods behind the Confederate left flank and then turns east toward the Federals. He
glass of buttermilk to calm his stomach, Jackson stretches out on a cloak strewn across the ground and immediately falls asleep. Jackson waits for two more days after the battle to see
orders Branch to incline right across the Culpeper Road to strike
if Pope will attack him. When he does not, Jackson withdraws
the Federals south of the road. While Branch is crossing the lane,
to Gordonsville. The Union loses 2,353 men at Cedar Mountain,
Archer launches a frontal assault on Gordon. Archer’s men waver
including 314 killed, 1,445 wounded, and 594 missing, while
midway to their objective. Nevertheless, he rallies his troops in the
the Confederates lose 231 killed and 1,107 wounded for a total
open field and orders them to conduct a bayonet charge against
casualty list of 1,338. The name “Slaughter’s Mountain” now has a
the Union position.
new meaning to it as the dead and wounded litter the battlefield.
The effect of Archer’s attack is vividly described in
Both Jackson and Banks are satisfied with the
Gordon’s battle report: “Companies were without officers, officers
performance of their troops at the Battle of Cedar Mountain.
and men were falling in every direction from the fire of an enemy
Jackson has achieved a tactical victory by driving the Federals
which largely outnumbered my brigade.” The brigade holds its
from the battlefield, but he has suffered a strategic defeat by
ground until Pender strikes. Under cover of the woods, Pender
failing to capture Culpeper and annihilate Banks when he has
is able to approach to within a few dozen yards of the enemy.
the chance. But even though Pope has won a strategic victory,
The combined force of Archer and Pender is more than Gordon’s
Jackson has effectively snatched the initiative from him at Cedar
brigade can stand. With Pender in his flank and rear, Gordon
Mountain, and Pope would not regain it again for the rest of the
orders a general withdrawal.
Northern Virginia Campaign.
The Federals are not only being pressed hard on their right and center but also on their left by Ewell’s descent from Cedar Mountain. The presence of the Confederates on the Federal left flank is enough to create a near stampede among the Union troops in that sector. Artillery crews hastily limber up their guns and move them north in the direction of Culpeper. They are followed by Greene’s brigade of Augur’s division, which has been held in reserve throughout the battle. By sunset, eight Confederate brigades have entered the cornfield, leaving just Pender and Archer north of the Culpeper Road.
41 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
Warhawk brings you the epic clashes of the wars fought in American History, from the Revolution all the way to World War 2. ! Each video is carefully researched with many facts and amazing stories from the past! Talk with us and contribute towards upcoming videos! Discord: https://discord.gg/SksB9SJ Consider supporting our channel! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/warhawkyt Youtube: Search Warhawk and look for the logo at the begining of the article.
A Child’s Memories
~ Karen Landers 17 VA Infantry th
My Dad was a career Marine. We lived in California, where he and my mom each won several State Muzzleloading Championships. We moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia in the summer of 1960. Sometime during the year, we lived there, my Dad came home saying he had been invited to go to a Muzzleloading shoot. He came home all excited, to say he had joined the 17th Virginia Infantry, CSA. Things of course were simpler then. His friends had lent him a uniform, leather goods, a musket and ammo and “put him on the line”. He was hooked. In the summer of 1961, we moved to North Carolina. It didn’t matter. Daddy traveled to shoots and sometimes took us all with him. In those years, the N-SSA didn’t have a permanent home. Skirmishes were usually held at Army bases, like Fort lee or Fort Meade. They allowed us to camp on base and use their range. Mother and I wore hoop skirts, and my younger brothers wore smaller versions of the men’s uniforms. There were costume contests like today, but much simpler. Anyone could enter and they didn’t check your “underpinnings”. When I was a teenager, I was told I could not wear my tennis shoes. I had to have authentic footwear, so I went barefoot. At the end of each shoot, any lady in a hoop dress was invited to hand out streamers. Each team would have one man stand on the 25-yard line with a guidon and the ladies would tie a streamer on it. Sometimes it was a musket with a bayonet. Once a shooter stuck is arm out and I tied it on his finger. When you arrived at a shoot, someone would direct you to where your team was camping. When we started using
Venskoskie’s farm in Winchester, we always camped different places, along the creek to the left or right of the bridge, up in the corner by the cows, top of the hill, even on the range side of the creek. The cows were taken out of those fields on Thursday. You had to watch for cow pies when pitching your tent. We had a camping trailer, but my brothers and I slept in USMC pup tents and “mummy” sleeping bags Daddy had requisitioned for the weekend. You could stay through Monday, but the cows came back on Tuesday. There were portable toilets and Army “Mules”, water trailers, to use. When they switched from wooden to fiberglass porta-johns, you had to be careful with your flashlight or lantern. It was quite a show from the outside. At Nationals Jack Rawls would drive a pair of mules, branded US and CS, pulling a wagon around the camp. He’d stop and pick up riders at each camp site. We’d go all around Fort Shenandoah and be dropped back again. The Fife and Drum Corp, quite large as I remember, marched and played all around the Fort also. On Saturday night the Grownups would dress in hoops and uniforms and go into Winchester to the Blue and Gray Ball. The bachelors would stay in camp and watch the kids. When I was a teen, we waited for an older “guardian” to fall asleep in his chair around the fire, then scattered like cockroaches. Usually, we went to visit other teens in other camps. We were expected to behave so we did not get our dads and teams in trouble. As a military brat, my brothers and I were already used to that mind set. When I was 16, the N-SSA did not allow girls to shoot. Even though I was used to shooting a musket in competition. But my 14-year-old brother, who was six feet tall was. Guess I’m still not happy about that. When they let girls shoot, I was married with small kids so it didn’t fit my lifestyle and my mother had by then fallen on ice and broken her shoulder, so she couldn’t shoot anymore. But when I was, let’s say older, with grown kids I joined. I shot with my dad and my three brothers. After my dad died, two of my four sons, my daughter and my son-in-law also joined. These days my folks and oldest brother are gone, and my daughter is busy with her own family. But two brothers, two sons and I can still field our own legal musket team. Some things haven’t changed. Learning how to sit in a lawn chair in a hoop skirt came in handy when I first tried it with my leather goods. When I tell newer members these things, they have trouble believing them. No permanent campsite? No permanent, flushable bathrooms? Your dress had a zipper/Velcro in it? Ladies wore hoop skirts just to watch the shoot. You could lean on the fence to talk to the shooters? The safety wore an orange hard hat. The captain stood on the right-hand end and hit a timer, no stop watches? Yep. Good memories.
42 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
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1/6/2022 2:31:47 PM
**ANNOUNCEMENT** Work Skirmish Saturday, June 18, 2022 Fort Shenandoah, Virginia Last year’s Work Skirmish fell prey to Covid. Hopefully that is in the past. The 2022 National Work Skirmish will be held on June 18. We have plenty of work so come on out! Some of the projects to date are as follows: a.
b. c. d. e.
Work around the Historical Center i. Paint as needed ii. Outside stairway along left side to emergency stairway continuing to back of building. iii. Handrail on front porch Maintenance of Cardiac Hill stairway Trim Brush Playground maintenance Replace treads on main bridge.
All teams with members who would like to volunteer please respond to Jeff Hall at jchall23.jh@gmail.com, and/or Tim Scanlan at nssapropertymgr@aol.com so we can properly plan the work, obtain the required material, and provide lunch. Thanks for your help.
Jeff Hall Property Management Staff Officer
45 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
Arsenic and Old Lace The hazards of 1860s apparel by Mary Deneau, 19th Michigan Social Media Officer, Costume Committee Some of you may remember the play and subsequent movies and remakes titled “Arsenic and Old Lace.” It’s a classic. In the story, Mortimer takes his new wife home to meet his family and discovers that his aunts have been murdering lonely old men with a glass of homemade wine “laced” with “arsenic, strychnine, and just a pinch of cyanide” and burying them in their cellar. While the play and movie are fictitious, there is an element of truth in the title. Poison has long been a method of murder in myths and legends as well as real life. Slipping drops of poison, or dumping powder from a secret-compartmented ring into someone’s drink comes to mind. In reality it could actually be put on clothing to be absorbed through the skin of one’s enemy. Or, it could intentionally be applied to fabric in the manufacturing process to achieve a desired effect. Prior to the invention of aniline dyes, certain colors were difficult to produce. Green was one of these colors. It is believed that green apparel became more popular as green in nature was disappearing in big cities. It was originally made by combining blue and yellow dyes, but the result was that it was not colorfast, faded easily and a deep emerald green that kept its same color in both natural and artificial light was not easily produced. The new green that met these requirements was produced by chemists. Most of the compounds contained arsenic trioxide combined with copper. This green was a pigment, not a dye, so it can be found in paintings, wallpaper (particularly toxic) and even children’s toys. And we thought lead paint was bad! But we’ll get to lead in a bit.
Arsenic was released in flakes from wallpaper, or produced arsenic gas when conditions were warm and damp. Crowded, warm places could cause a person to sweat, speeding up the absorption through the skin. Women wearing green clothing could endanger others in close proximity to them and a dance partner was at risk, especially when dancing the waltz, as that particular dance involved holding a lady closely and potentially breathing in arsenic dust from a lady’s headdress or getting it on the partner’s hands. Even with the practice of wearing gloves to dance, you would remove them to eat or drink, and you would handle the gloves to remove them and carry them, thus transferring the poison to your hands, your food and so on. Symptoms of skin exposure to arsenic included rashes and painful skin eruptions. Prolonged contact is thought to lead to skin cancer, and of course, death was always a possibility. Thus, the term “poison green” was invented. The color green became associated with poison and bad luck, and even after the invention of safer methods of obtaining the color, some people avoided it. Even today we can watch a scary movie and we just know that witch’s bubbling cauldron of green brew, or the glass bottles of green powders and liquids in the mad scientist’s laboratory indicate poison.
There are documented cases of young women who worked in the silk flower factories who used arsenical green dust to color the leaves and then died from inhaling the dust or from absorbing it through their skin. This was not restricted to factory workers. Artificial flower-making kits were sold to consumers so you could enjoy the art of poisoning yourself from the comfort of your own home. Or, you could simply wear these garments and accessories and become very sick. Heat often added to the problem.
Green dress from my personal collection
Child’s green shoes, from my collection
46 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
Sadly, it doesn’t have to be green to contain arsenic! There were other colors that could contain arsenic trioxide, also known as “white arsenic”. Aniline dyes were chemical compounds rather than dyes obtained from natural (plant) sources. These dyes enabled chemists to produce rich colors not seen in previous
years. If a chemist could produce a color much sought after, their financial future was secure. Another chemical, nitrobenzene, or nitrobenzol as it was sometimes called, smelled like bitter almond essence. Though it was a toxic chemical,” it was used as a scent in perfume, hair and face creams, soaps, even in candies, marzipans and liqueurs”. (1). It was also used as a fabric dye, but it is still used today in lubricating oils. “Nitrobenzene is highly toxic and readily absorbed through the skin. Prolonged exposure may cause serious damage to the central nervous system, impair vision, cause liver or kidney damage, anemia and lung irritation.” (Google). Williiam Henry Perkin, while trying to find a way to synthetically produce quinine as a treatment for malaria, found that the black coal-tar solution he was using could produce a purple dye for textiles. Purples and mauves were the result and they became very popular “new” colors. Being fashionable was not without problems, however. The weekly humor and satire magazine, “Punch”, in August 1859, describes the symptoms of the “mauve measles”, a purplish-red rash that appears on the skin from wearing clothing of this color.
Headdress from my collection Black mourning veils, called a “weeping veil” or “widows’ weeds” were made of silk crape (according to one source it is spelled crape instead of crepe if it refers to mourning). Due to the dyes and chemicals used to process the fabric these veils could cause respiratory issues, skin irritation, blindness and death. When crape got wet, either from water or sweat, it would stain the skin. Ironically, the instructions to remove the stains from the skin were often toxic as well. I have seen articles cautioning against wearing veils of the period unless you have it tested first. Of course, as historical preservationists we never recommend wearing antiques because body oils can ruin old textiles. Given that black veils were used for mourning and mauve was allowed for half mourning, it makes you wonder what the fashion industry had against widows. I found references to poisonous garments well into the 20th century so use caution regardless of the age of the garments and accessories. Remembering the poisonous silk leaves discussed earlier, we need to consider all parts of the garments and accessories we might come into contact with. 47 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
Red was a popular color, especially for socks, and the chloroxynitric acid used in the making of it caused rashes and blistering of the skin on the feet and ankles. If the socks were red striped, the rash appeared in strips around the leg. This led some manufacturers to seize the opportunity to offer natural-colored stockings. Taxidermists used soaps containing arsenic to preserve animal skins, particularly that of birds. Complete birds were stuffed and used as adornments on hats and bonnets in huge numbers, and I even observed a round feather hand fan at a Grand Rapids, Michigan museum that was carried to Lincoln’s 2nd inaugural ball by a Michigan woman. It had a stuffed warbler mounted on the face of it.
On the topic of hats, we would be remiss if we didn’t talk about the hat making process which involved the use of mercury, or quicksilver. It was very popular for men to wear hats made of felted beaver hair. Some hat makers passed off “beaver” hats felted from rabbits or any other furry creature, some accounts indicate even rats and mice were used. Beaver was coveted because it did not lose its shape when wet, unlike sheep’s wool felt. Beaver was naturally waterproof. The process for felting required the hair to be removed from the skin and “felted”, which is the process of interlocking, or tangling the fibers to form a permanent structure. Think of a pile of brush and trying to untangle the interwoven sticks, or think of trying to separate the strands of hair you pull from your hairbrush. It requires friction or agitation to interlock the fibers and, in modern day felting, soap and water aid in the process. But instead of soap and water, the 19th century method of felting used a mercury and acid solution to interlock the hairs. That, along with pressure and heat, formed the “fabric” of felt. Once in the felt, in the body, or in the soil surrounding the factories, mercury stays put. Symptoms of mercury poisoning included numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, and face, but if continually exposed, it caused neuromotor system impairment (uncontrollable shaking) and emotional changes such as mood swings, irritability, nervousness or reclusive behavior. It is surprising that they were able to continue to make hats when many could sign their name no more than a scribble. Hat makers, or hatters as they were called, were often thought to have mental illness, thus came about the term “mad as a hatter.” Men who wore the hats were exposed to mercury too, though not as much, and not for as long-term as the hatters. Mercury was also used in other processes, such as the photographic process of making daguerreotypes, exposing photographers to the substance. Mercury is thought to be one of the most toxic substances that
museum staff can come into contact with, other than lead. Many museums have textile collections tested, and even put hats and other toxic items in impermeable mylar bags with hazardous substance labels on them. Lead was used in many products for centuries, such as face powders and rouge, because it made the colors opaque. It was found to cause something called lead palsy, a condition that caused the hands to droop and become unable to function. At times it caused entire paralysis of the arms. While this sounds horrifying, you might be surprised to learn that lead is still found in some lipsticks today. Because it is considered a contaminant, not an ingredient, the manufacturers are not required to list it. The list could go on, but the bottom line is, if you own or handle antique garments, gloves, bonnets, headdresses, or even shoes, use caution when handling these items. At one time it was thought that heavily perfumed gloves could protect a person against poisons, but we now know this isn’t the case. I highly recommend using something more appropriate, such as non-permeable gloves and a facemask until you know for certain the beautiful artifact you are holding isn’t toxic. David, Alison Mathews, Fashion Victims, London: Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2015 Meier, Allison, Death by Wallpaper: The Alluring Arsenic Colors that Poisoned the Victorian Age, Hyperallergic.com October 31, 2016 book review of: Bitten by Witch Fever: Wallpaper & Arsenic in the Nineteenth Century Home by Lucinda Hawkesly, Thames and Hudson, 2016
Message to the Troops Members of the N-SSA, Greetings- Hello- Howdy! I truly hope this message finds you preparing for the Spring Skirmish Season along with good health and well-being. The recent down time has been filled with sorrow for many of us as we have lost some key members in the N-SSA. The empty chairs around the table are numerous and will never be filled again with skirmishers of the same character. Most notably for me was the recent passing of John A. Sharrett, III. As many of you may know, John was a founding member of the Dismal Swamp Rangers , along with Dick Dodd. John had served the Dismal Swamp Ranger for years holding every office including commander during his 60 plus years of active service. John had served as Tidewater Regional Commander, N-SSA Deputy Commander, National Commander, Tidewater regions Historian and many different committee that support operations of the N-SSA. John’s passing has left a huge hole in our team and will have an additional impact on the N-SSA as he was so involved in so many of the activities that we take for granted. John was a huge supporter of the N-SSA, financially and in work effort. The projects he lead and participated in are too numerous to list but include: The new lamps in memorial park, the signs for the historical center and Sutlers Row, the restoring of the bell near the millstone, installing a light at registration, painting the flag poles , restoring the lamps on the bridge , trimming the trees at both the entrance and exit roads, and the list goes on and on. My challenge to each of you is to pick up where John left off and continue his efforts to support the fort. If you see something that needs to be done, gather the troops and get started! Locally, in the Tidewater region as we prepare for the new season we plan to have a memorial salute to John at the DSR skirmish in March as well as a recognition at the Spring regional. John was so supportive of offering his labor to continue to enhance the site of Fort Mahone, the regional range that Tidewater uses. To say he will be missed is an extreme understatement. 48 Skirmish Line Spring 2022
On a recent visit to the fort last year, I stopped by the N-SSA Museum and met with Gary Crawford to see what progress has been made on preparing the facility to be opened to the public. There has been lots of work done but there is still quite a bit of continued refurbishment needed. The museum is in need of glass display cases- if you have a source or would like to support the purchase please reach out to me and I will relay the information. Donations for new cases are also needed, dig deep and send your extra change Gary’s way! We all look forward to the new season- re-establishing old friendships, crafting new ones and enjoying our unique brand of competition hope each of you have had the opportunity to cast rounds, repair and build new projects and get your gear and uniforms in order. The Skirmish Season is now upon us- so let’s get out there and burn some powder and create some smoke! Also please Keep in touch with your team mates- call or send them a note. Most of all just communicate and keep in touch. See you soon on the skirmish line! I remain in your service, Mike Davenport 5494V
EDITOR NOTE~ Regional Commanders every issue there is a spot for you to address the organization. Send me a email to nssaeditor@gmail.com. Use this as your time to address your region, the organization or whatever you choose. This is your magazine, feel free to utilize it.
Loading Stand for the Single Shot Smoothbore Pistol By Gary Brockmiller
A loading stand is required by N-SSA rule 20.7.1 for both individual and team competition. The following is an instructional guide to constructing a stand for the single shot smoothbore pistol (SSSP) While a number of stand designs are currently in use, there were several goals that I wanted to achieve. • Portability: The stand needed to be collapsible so that it could fit inside of my pistol box. As I already have a pistol box, scope & stand and cartridge & cap box, I’m running out of available hands to lug gear to the firing line. This should eliminate one trip back to my truck. • Stability: The stand needs to securely hold the SSSP with minimal chance for it to move and slide around during the loading process. • Durability: Needs to be strong enough that it doesn’t break but also is not too heavy. Materials list: (1) One 2”x 8”x 12” scrap wood. (Hardwood like oak, walnut or maple is not preferred because its too heavy and dense) Standard non-pressure treat pine or fir is best. This will be the base of the stand. (2) One ¾”x 8”x 20” soft wood (pine, fir, etc.) This will be the upright section of the stand (3) One 5/16“x 3” coarse thread carriage bolt and wing nut (4) Two wood screws 2 ½ “long This stand is built for the Harpers Ferry SSSP sold by Dixie Gun Works that has the following dimensions: Length 16”, height (bottom of the butt to top of the barrel) 4 ½”. If you are building a stand for a different pistol than you will need to adjust dimensions as necessary. (1) Cut the base to the desired width. I measured the bottom of my pistol box which is approximately 9” wide, so in order to avoid a “jam” fit, I cut the base to 5” wide. (2) Cut 2 ¼” off the base. This piece will become part of the pistol butt “pocket.” (3) Cut the upright to the same width as the base. Then make two additional cuts from the length. The first cut is 2 ¼ inches. This will be the upright support. Second, cut 3 inches from the length. This will be the barrel supports With the base, make a mortise cut ¾” wide, ½” deep and 6” from the end of the base (FIG 2). This mortise is where the upright will fit into. Make the mortise so that the upright will fit securely but not so tight that it’s difficult to remove. The next step is the hardest in the building process. It is quite helpful to have a 1 ½” sanding drum that Fig attaches to a portable drill or drill press. Mark the center line of the base on the opposite side from your mortise cut and the center line of the 2 ½” pistol butt “pocket.” This will aid in keeping everything 2 centered when forming the pocket. On the base piece, you will want to make an oval that is egg shaped approximately ¾” deep at the end. (FIG 3)
Fig 3
On the 2 ¼”” piece you will grind away two adjoining sides and make them match up to the base piece. This is the most timeconsuming part as you will need to constantly check the fit with your pistol. You will want the pistol butt to slide into the pocket, being neither too loose nor tight. (Fig 4) Fit upright support into the mortise you cut into the base and then scribe a line where the two pieces meet. (FIG 5)
Fig 5
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Fig 4
This line represents the bottom edge of the mortise on the upright piece. Now cut a mortise into the upright ¾’ wide and ½” deep. Your upright support should fit snugly into the upright. On the opposite side of the upright piece, you need to cut two more mortises. The first will be at the top of the upright, ¾’ down and ½” deep. The first barrel support will fit here, flush with the top of the upright. The second mortise will be 2 ½” down from the top ¾” wide and ½” deep. Take the remaining 3” piece of wood and mark the center, measuring both the length and width. Use a forstner or spade bit to completely cut a ¾” hole. Be sure to use a scrap piece of wood as a backer so that you can ovoid tear out on the back side. Next, mark a line thru the center of the ¾” hole and cut the piece in half. You will end up with two matching pieces, each 3” long and 1 ½” wide. (FIG 6) On the upright you will need to have an opening for the pistol hammer. The opening will be
offset to the hammer side of the pistol and large enough to accommodate the hammer in both the closed and full cock position. This will allow you to use the stand for cleaning the pistol. Use a 4” hole saw to make two overlapping holes. Take a wood rasp or heavy file to join the two cutouts, making one large oval. This cutout can also be made with a jig saw. (FIG 7)
Fig 6
Sand all the pieces of wood to remove any splinters. Depending on how you intend to finish the stand, you may wish to sand up to 220 grit paper. Putting a finish on the stand is important so that it does not absorb moisture in the inevitable Winchester rain. It doesn’t have to be a thing of beauty because the last time I checked, the N-SSA doesn’t award style points. Using a good wood glue, attach the upright support to the upright and let dry. Clamp the pistol butt pocket to the base and from the underside drill two holes, one on either side, each ½’ for the edge. Measure the width and height of the screw head and drill a relief so that the screw head will be recessed. Now glue the butt pocket piece to the base and secure with the two screws.
Fig 7
Adjustment of the pistol in the stand: With the upright set into the base, place the pistol into the stand. Take the two barrel support pieces and just slide them into their mortises. Most likely you will find that one support fits just fine and the other support comes up a little short. Actually, its really the opposite. The support that “fits fine” is really too far away from the upright. Sand the mortise side (the side opposite the ¾” cutout) to shorten and test fit until both supports fit the barrel. Once the supports are fitted it is now time to glue them into place. (Fig 8) Cutting the curve on the upright: While not entirely necessary, having the top of the upright smaller makes it easier to grasp the barrel and stand at the same time when loading or cleaning to steady the pistol. Measure 1 ½” from each side from the center of the upper barrel support and transfer that line all the way to the back of the upright. Then measure 4 ½” down and place a mark on each side. In either a straight line or a curve, depending on your artistic mood, connect the lines. With a jig saw or band saw cut along the line. (FIG 9)
Fig 8
Installing the 5/16” carriage bolt: Set the upright into the base and while holding firmly (a clamp is most helpful) drill a hole from the bottom of the base thru the upright support. This hole should be approximately 1’ from the side of the upright and 1” away from the back of the upright. Make sure that this hole is on the same side as the offset hammer opening. Now remove the upright and lay it flat on top of the base with the upright support piece facing up and against the butt pocket. Hold the two pieces together and using the same hole that you drilled thru the base as a guide, drill thru the upright. (FIG 10)
Fig 10 Editor Note: Be sure to dry fit every peice before you go to gluing. Many of these peices have to be custom fit with some gentle sanding.
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Fig 9
From the underside of the base, cut a relief in the hole you just drilled so that the carriage bole head is completely recessed. Epoxy glue the carriage bolt into place being careful not to get any epoxy on the threads where the wing nut threads onto it. (FIG 11) Now all that is remaining is for you to put on the finish. I prefer to stain the wood and use a Tung oil finish but that process takes several days to cure because you need to wait for each coat to cure. Just as easily you could look on the shelf of your garage and find several old cans of spray paint. As long as you are shooting 10’s on your target nobody will be looking at your loading stand or care what color it is.
FIG 11
Gary Brockmiller York Rangers
Editor Note: I for one am a fan of the Modern day cyptec camo scheme Gary.
History at our Fingertips The following is a special article that was emailed to me. by Jim Rogers of the Iredell Blues. It consits of c orrespondence between Confederate States of America Senator Louis Wigfall and his son Halsey Wigfall. We are lucky enough to have these correspondence from Jim’s teamate Marty who is the Great Great grandson of Senator Wigfall. I’ll Let Jim lead us in and publish the letter following it. Louis Trezevant Wigfall, his wife Charlotte Maria Cross, their son Frances Halsey and their two daughters, Louise (Luly) and Mary Frances (Fanny) spent 1861-1865 heavily involved in and concerned about the CSA. L T Wigfall was a native South Carolinian who moved to Texas and served the Confederacy as an officer in 1861 and as a Senator from the formation of its government through all four years of the war. His son Halsey, who turned 17 in July of 1861, served the Confederacy from October 1861 through the end of the war, including two and a half years in several artillery units with the ANV and nearly one and a half years as a staff officer for Generals Hood and Johnston. As the descendants of the Wigfalls, we are fortunate to have many letters and papers from the family as well as copies of “Wigfall Papers” which are in the Library of Congress. Among those letters is one from Uncle Halsey to his “Papa”, dated January of 1863, when he would have been with Stuart’s Horse Artillery. This letter answers his father’s questions about Halsey’s views on the organization of the artillery.
Editor Note ~ If you’d like to see the original texts reach out to me and I can provide you a copy of the scans I was given. We will publish the transcripts here.
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Original Letter between CSA Senator Wigfall & his Son Camp near Chesterfield Station Friday Jan 9th, 1863 Dear Papa I wrote to Mama the day I reached camp, a week ago to-day. I have not heard from any of you since leaving the Springs but am in hopes of receiving a letter to-day. You asked me before I left to write and give my views on the subject of our artillery organization. As it stands at present there is little or no regularity about it, and it would be hard to change it for the worse. The organization of a six-p’d’r. “mounted battery”, i.e. a field battery in which the cannoneers walk by the side of the pieces or are mounted on the ammunition-chests, as opposed to “horse artillery” in which the cannoneers are on horseback, as laid down in the U.S. “Instruction for Field Artillery”, is as follows: on a war footing, six pieces, one Captain, four Lieutenants, one for each section, and one to command the line of caissons, two staff sergeants (Qr. Mr. and 1st or Orderly), six sergeants chiefs of pieces, twelve corporals gunners and chiefs of caissons, six artificers, two buglers, fifty-two drivers, and seventy cannoneers. Of these last three drivers are required for each carriage, and there being twelve carriages (six pieces and six caissons) thirty-six drivers are necessary to carry the battery into action, leaving sixteen for other purposes, of whom six are allowed for the forge and the battery-wagon necessary for shoeing horses, mending harness and repairing breaks generally, so that ten are left spare. It must be taken into consideration that an infantry company’s efficiency exists in exact proportion to its numbers no matter how much reduced, while on the contrary when a company of artillery falls below a certain number of men its guns become useless; hence the necessity of carrying into the field spare men as well as spare horses, wheels, poles, &c. To man the guns requires, in addition to the sergeant and two corporals, seven cannoneers for each piece making forty-two, and leaving twenty-eight spare. The six artificers might very well consist of one blacksmith, one horse-shoer, one carriage-maker, one wheelwright, one harness-maker and one saddler. On adding them all together we find that they amount to five commissioned and one hundred and fifty enlisted. The “Instructions for field Artillery” which comprises the regulations for Artillery in the US army says the number of men in a battery should never be less than twenty-five per piece even in six-pdr. batteries. The above distribution you see gives that number exactly. I enclose a plan of organization into brigades and divisions which though very crude and undigested may possibly be of some assistance to you. The commissioned and non-commissioned staff of the brigades and divisions should not be taken from among the officers and non-commissioned officers of the batteries for they have each their own particular duties to perform. I would have no Chiefs of Artillery at the head-qts of the Army corps or of the Army; but would let the Colonels of Artillery stand in the same light to the Major-Generals com’dg Divisions as the Brig-Gen’ls of Infantry, and occupy the same position in respect to their own commands as the Colonels of Infantry Regt’s. The Artillery Reserve, to quote from the US “Ins. for field Art.”, “constitutes a distinct arm of battle, under the immediate orders of the general commanding”. The mail has come but brought no letter for me. Give my best love to Mama. I will write to Louly in a day or two. Write whenever you have leisure dear Papa and believe me as ever Your affectionate Son Halsey
1 Bat. Com’d by a Captain.
2 Bat’s 1 Bat. Com’d by Capt. 1 Bat. “ “
1 Brigade com’d. by a Major “
2 Brig’s. 1 Brig. Com’d by Maj. 1 Brig. “
1 Division com’d by a Lt-Colonel. “
“
1 Brig. Com’d. by Major 3 Brig’s 1 Brig. “ “ Major 1 Division com’d. by a Colonel. 1 Brig. “ “ Lieut-Col. The Artillery Reserve to be commanded by a Brigadier-General. The batteries to be organized into Brigades and Divisions and the Brigades and Divisions to be distributed between the Artillery Reserve and the various Infantry Divisions of the different Army Corps.
Editor ~ Thank you again to the Iridell Blues for giving us this unique piece of history.
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U.S. Model 1841 Rifle N-SSA Type F, aka Moller Type IV John Holland ,Small Arms Staff Officer Chairman, Small Arms Committee
The Model 1841 Rifle, aka “Mississippi Rifle”, is the most diverse U.S. military arm ever made, with some 50 or so variations known by collectors. It has maintained its popularity ever since the first ones were delivered to troops for field trials. The N-SSA currently recognizes not only the original basic as-issued model, but also another 12 variations. These variations are the different types of sight alterations allowing for long range shooting. The vast majority of other Mississippi Rifle alterations were for bayonet adaptions, and therefore are of little interest to the N-SSA competitive shooter. The variant being discussed in this article is known in the N-SSA as a “Type F”. As you have seen, it is also known as a “Moller Type IV”. The difference in naming is due to the fact that the N-SSA was the first entity to actually classify the sight variation types of Mississippi Rifles some 40 years ago. When the late George D. Moller published “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume 3, Flintlock Alterations and Muzzleloading Percussion Shoulder Arms, 1840-1865” in 2011, he created his own classification system, which is rather different from what the N-SSA had done thirty years prior. George Moller’s three volume set of books on “American Military Shoulder Arms” has become the virtual “Bible” for reference purposes. Because they are so popular, and constantly referenced by collectors, is why I included his terminology in the header to this article for clarification purposes. The set is expensive, but I still highly recommend them to collectors. Most people in the N-SSA will only be interested in Volume three. Fortunately they can be purchased separately. For our purposes I will use the N-SSA designation of the “Type F”. This alteration was done at the Harper’s Ferry Armory during the Fiscal Year of 1860, which ended in April of 1861 when the Armory was captured by Confederate forces. The Type F is the last of the series of Model 1841 Rifles altered at Harper’s Ferry. The existing records indicate that there were 1,060 such alterations done. Normally Harper’s Ferry used only Harper’s Ferry made rifles for their alterations, however the Type F is now known to have also been done using contract rifles. The previous alterations were experimental in nature and were really a testing ground looking for the best sight to use on a new rifle that was being developed. That new rifle was of course the Harper’s Ferry Model 1855 Rifle, which was introduced in 1857. The Model 1841 Type F wasn’t really of an experimental nature, but rather an expedient to get rifles to the government. The rear sight used on this rifle is the same short base leaf sight that had been adopted for the Harper’s Ferry Model 1855 Rifle in 1858. Also included in the upgrade alteration of the Type F Rifle was the short double strap front band, a Model 1855 Rifle bayonet lug, and 1855 Rifle front sight. The .54 caliber bore was reamed and re-rifled to the standard .58 caliber. This upgraded M-1841 Rifle had everything that the M-1855 Rifle had except for a tape primer, which was already showing itself to be problematic. In my personal opinion this was a far better rifle than the then current M-1855 Rifle! The weight is nearly identical, it has a larger patch box, the same latest version rear and front sights, and you don’t have to fumble with the percussion cap to get it on the nipple because there is no high hump tape primer lock! For those who may be interested in replicating this unique Model 1841 “Mississippi” Type 4 Rifle, included for your convenience is the latest version of the Small Arms inspection sheet for this rifle. Editor Note ~ If any of our members wish to get their hands on a nice reproduction model of this firearm you are in luck. Pedersoli makes a fine reproduction of this firearm that you can pick up easily.
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Rev – 1-4-2006; 11-23-10; 10-15-11; 6-14-21 (rear sight description)
S.A.C. #
APPLICATION FOR ARMS APPROVAL NORTH-SOUTH SKIRMISH ASSOCIATION
NAME: _________________________
DATE OF REVIEW______________
ADDRESS:______________________
N-SSA ID NUMBER_____________
CITY:__________________________
UNIT#_________ REGION________
STATE:_________________________
SINGLE____ PRODUCTION______
ZIP CODE_______________________
DATE CARD ISSUED____________
TYPE OF ARM: Rifle__________ MODEL: 1841 Mississippi – Type F (Purpose made at Harper’s Ferry 1860; Moller Type 4) Information from Paul Davies, and George Moller
O R I G
R E P R
I R O N
B R A S
Dimensions
Original
Repro
Tol+/-
Overall Length
48.75
1.0”
Barrel Length
33.0
.5
Rear Sight Loc
2.875
.375
Stock -
Front Sight Loc
31.562
.250
Trigger Guard Assembly - Brass
42.875
.5
Patch Box - Brass
Overall Stock Length Front Band
25.375
.375
Butt Plate - Brass
Middle Band
N/A
.375
Bands - Brass
Bottom Band
9.5
.375
Nose Cap – Front Band – Short Type
Drop in Stock
2.625
.5
Rear Sight – H.F. 1855 Rifle, 3 leaf, no protective ears, w/step at rear of base, sight base is 1.185” OAL from flat to flat, dovetailed into original slot & screw mounted Front Sight – 1855 H.F. Rifle type
Trig to Butt Plate
13.875
.5
Barrel – Made by Sleeved - By who Breech – Made by Bayonet lug, no guide, mounted at 29.0” Lock – Maker & Date -
Sling Swivel Caliber Number of Grooves
COMMITTEE USE ONLY: APPROVED_____ DISAPPROVED_____ Remarks if any on back top of form AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE ___________________ INSPECTOR’S COMP. # _____________
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Bow & Fr. Band .58 only ?
.375 .010
Back to Basics Stance
By : Tom Wiegand, Commander Hampton’s Legion Assistant National IG Your stance is the most important part of shooting accurately. It’s your base, your foundation. If you have a weak or unstable base, nothing else will be steady. Without a steady posture and aim, you won’t hit anything you’re shooting at except by pure luck. Since we are talking about muzzleloaders, let’s first dispense with modern firearms and shotguns used for trap, skeet, sporting clays or anything else that requires motion in your shooting. We are discussing target shooting either for score or at breakable targets that don’t move to any extreme amount. Muzzleloaders, flintlocks, three-band muskets, two band muskets and such are heavy and they are long. The forward facing stance that is used for a modern rifle like the AR-15 will not provide an adequate base to carry that weight and length of barrel, unless you are very strong. The half forward stance of trap is designed to let the shooter pivot as he/she tracks the bird in flight. For us, you don’t want to move that much. So, the steadiest base tends to be the most traditional when it comes to shooting. The shooter’s feet should be about shoulder width apart and parallel to the line of the target and firing line, if you have one. The firearm will be perpendicular to this line, give or take a few degrees for where you are standing in relationship to the target. Make sure you are comfortable with your foot placement. Move your feet, settle them into a solid footing. Once there, you don’t want them to move again, if possible. You may not always have a level surface. Find a position that you can maintain and is most comfortable. Kick stones, twigs or other uncomfortable debris out from under your feet. Bring your firearm up to your shoulder and sight down the barrel. Is it closely aligned with your target? If yes, good. If not, move the position of your feet to get it so aligned. Re-shoulder the firearm and check it again. The goal is not to have any twist to your torso when you aim. More stress here makes your base unstable. Now, you are set to shoulder the firearm for a shot. There are three portions of this motion to consider. First is putting the firearm to your shoulder. The butt of the firearm needs to be secure against your shoulder. This is achieved by bringing your elbow up at least as high as your shoulder. The higher your elbow the more surface area of your shoulder to hold the butt. The second reason for this form is that it will bring your sights closer to your eyes. The lower the sights, the more you have to bend your neck to see them, the more awkward and painful shooting can be. A slight tilt of the head to bring your aiming eye in line with the sights should be all that is necessary. Now, to the forehand. There are many possible locations for placement of this support. Some shooters rest their elbow against their waist and put their support hand immediately in front of the trigger guard. Others will stretch their arms full length and pull the rifle into their shoulder in this manner. I, personally, use the half-way support. My hand goes to the first band on the musket, carbine or smoothbore, with the elbow directly underneath. This is most comfortable for me. Before any loading or firing, test various postures for long term comfort and stability. You want to make this as easy on your body as possible. There will be more on this when I discuss aiming the firearm. New shooters often find themselves leaning backwards when holding a muzzleloader. This is to counterbalance the length and weight of the firearm. As core muscle strength builds through practice, their stance will usually become more vertical. Anecdotally, a teammate was shooting individual competition and not getting the scores he expected. After three targets, he exclaimed that he had been gripping the sling swivel instead of putting his hand right behind it. That little difference and correction let him shoot the first place target with his next entry. Once you have a steady and successful process, stay with it. Eventually, muscle memory will put you there with every shot. There are two more things to mention. Safety first, safety always. And have fun.
Editor’s Note ~ This article kicks off our Back to Basic series that we are starting up. In the upcoming issues we will address all the basics that a new shooter needs to know to hit that 10X
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North-South Skirmish Association Board of Director’s Meeting Friday, October 1, 2021 Fort Shenandoah, Winchester, Virginia Approved November 28, 2021 The membership meeting was held at the entrance to Memorial Park at 7:30 p.m. The decision to move the meeting from the barn to Memorial Park was due to concerns of crowding in barn with current CDC Covid guidelines. Inspector General, Michael Santarelli thanked all of the competitors for their cooperation during this national. Paymaster, Bette Shepherd introduced herself as the new paymaster. She announced that she had emailed the Fair Share Tax bills out. If any team had not received their bill, she was available after the meeting. Teams could also email her if they had not received their bill. Provost Marshall, Bob Klutas welcomed everyone back to the Fort and reported there had been no problems. He thanked the region commanders for supporting the guards. Have a great and enjoyable shoot. The following units were reported as not signing in at the membership meeting. 183AL – 17th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry 260AL – Grahams Battery 180DS -3rd Regt Georgia Volunteer Infantry 192DS – 4th Tenn. Inf. Harris Guards 034MW – 2nd Ohio Vol. Inf. 094NW – 5th Battery Michigan Light Artillery 215NW – 7th Tenn. Inf. Regt CSA 152PT – Harts Battery 019TW- Wythe Rifles By voice vote, the following By-Laws change was approved. Article XIII, Section 10 If at any time, it is deemed necessary for the Board of Directors to meet, but it is impossible or impractical to meet in person, the Commander may hold said meeting electronically, provided the meeting can be held with all participants having access to both audio and video thus permitting for ample live discussion of the matters debated. Program Chairs, Lynn Warner and Jason Rexrode announced that the opening ceremonies Sunday morning would be lengthy. TAPS will be held to the end and members that feel they cannot stand for a length of time, may be dismissed back to the ready area. The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted. Mike Davenport, Tidewater Region Commander announced that in two weeks the region would hold its annual Cancer Shoot. To date $78,000.00 has been raised and all donated to cancer research. This is our 9th year. Jaime Conner of the 3rd North Carolina, the new cancer committee chair introduced herself and stated that she is a breast cancer survivor, and asked the members to support the Cancer Skirmish. Commander Kindle announced where skirmish directors for the 145th, 146th, 147th and 148th would meet with their host staff. Meeting adjourned.
Judy Stoneburner Executive Secretary
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Memorial Park – N-SSA Engraved Brick Memorial Request Form NAME
UNIT: Year Deceased or memorial notation (ex. From loving family)
Description of memorial bricks Bricks are 4” x 8” in size Laser Engraved
All bricks will be of the same font and color
Directions: Please print clearly on the form. Only deceased N-SSA members may have a brick placed in Memorial Park. Duplicate bricks may be ordered at the same price (Ex. One brick for Memorial Park, one brick for family, team, etc.). Please indicate this on the form. Duplicate brick(s) ordered can be picked up at the secretary’s office during each nationals. Duplicate bricks will not be shipped. Number of bricks ordered__________ @ $30.00 each Total Amount submitted $___________ Make Checks Payable to: North-South Skirmish Association Submitted by: Name: _____________________________________________ Unit Name:_______________________________________ Unit Number and Region ________ Contact number or email address___________________________________________________ Mail to: Executive Secretary Judy Stoneburner P.O. Box 218 Crozet, VA 22932-0218 ****************************************************************************** Office Use Only: Date Received: ____________________________ Check #________
Amount $___________
Brick Placement________
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Deposit Date_____/_______/_____
Extra Brick:
NO
YES
____________________
Safety is Every Skirmisher’s Responsibility Douglas Walter National Staff Safety Officer
With another skirmish season underway it is a good time to discuss the importance of firearms safety. All of us perform the duties of Safety Officer at our skirmishes and this duty is not to be taken lightly. Our organization has an excellent history of safety, but we must not become complacent. The responsibility of the Safety Officer is to observe the shooters’ actions, loading procedures and to clear the firing line at the end of the event. First and foremost, “Safety Officers must inform competitors of safety violations and must stop unsafe practices when observed” (Rule 4.15.d). A “Procedures for Safety Officers” handbook can be found on the N-SSA website under “Links”-“Rules & Forms”-“National Skirmish Host Staff Information”. This handbook covers the duties and responsibilities of a Safety Officer while hosting a National Skirmish. Also included are general Safety Officer procedures along with loading and clearing processes for all small arms. Each rule stated in this handbook also references the section, paragraph, and line in The Skirmish Rules. It is a quick reference that can be printed in booklet form by adjusting your print settings and then kept in your shooting box. Company Commanders- this is a handy item to use when training new shooters! It is every skirmisher’s responsibility to know and follow the Skirmish Rules, but none are more important than the rules governing firearm safety! See you at the Fort! Doug Walter National Safety Officer
Thank you to everyone who sent pictures of John over the years. Getting to just see his face in the pictures brought joy to my life agiain ~ Editor
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N-SSA History Center GRAND REOPENING CEREMONY Friday, May 20, 2022 Ribbon Cutting – 4 pm Commander Chuck Kindle will conduct the ceremonial reopening, welcoming one and all. Stop by to browse the new displays. Learn about your N-SSA’s past and its inspiring people. DOOR PRIZES The History Center will be open until 7pm on Friday and from 11am until 7pm on Saturday
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$0.60 per word (minimum 15 words) Bold and designs extra.
Paymaster@nssa.net
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Thank You to All of our Sponsors Muzzle Muzzle Blasts.............................................................2 Blast..............................................................2 Walk Walk The The Talk Talk America...........................................3 America...........................................3 Doc’s LarryPlace.................................................................5 J. Fleese............................................................4 Schuetzen Black Powder..........................................6 Doc’s Place.................................................................5 Larry J. Flees..............................................................8 Schutzen Black Powder............................................6 Single Shot Exchange...............................................9 Single Shot Exchange.............................................31 Back Creek Gun Shop...........................................42 Back Creek Gun Shop...........................................16 API Gun Bags…………………………………..43 API Gun Bags…………………………………..17 Log Cabin Dixie Gun Shop......................................................44 Works....................................................45 Dixie Works....................................................45 DavidGun Pedersoli Firearms......................Back Cover Davide Pedersoli Firearms....................Back Cover
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nssaeditor@gmail.com
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